PRESS RELEASE: DECEMBER 18, 2025

SJR State celebrates nursing graduates

Florence Nightingale Award: Margaret Gall and Kathryn Fishack

The Academic Excellence Award: Taylor Brooke Ward and Francesca Bland

St. Johns River State College recently held a pinning ceremony to recognize the Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) students. A continued tradition of Florence Nightingale, the pinning ceremony symbolizes the rite of passage into the nursing profession and the care and devotion nurses provide. Graduates received a pin that serves as a reminder of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed.

ASN graduates from the St. Augustine campus programs include students from St. Johns, Clay, Duval, Flagler and Putnam counties: Mary Avendano, Francesca Bland, Ammon Burmeister, Cassandra Cadwalader, Megan Caughel, Dallas Chamblin, Tia Davis, Kathryn Fishack, Jesse Madrigal, Abigail Whitman, Kyleigh Lockman, Alexis Moore, Sokhoeuy Or, Trinity Stafford, Bryanna Yancy, Mya Perry, Christopher Ray, Alyssa Szamiel, Bethany Wolski, Elizabeth Arzola, Erica Donjuan, April Dougherty, Margaret Gall, Samantha Hill, Unika Vickers, Amanda Chisholm, Sierra Ferrell, Andrew Harris, Gabrielle Marando, Marcia Quinones, Trinity Ramos, Katelen Smith, Brandi Fallen, Hillary Lee, Cheyenne Moore, Phino Philippe, Kenyale Stone, Mary Trout, Taylor Ward, Kelsey Wilkinson, Michael Webb and Malia Wolf.

During the ceremony, Kathryn Fishack and Margaret Gall were awarded the Florence Nightingale Award for demonstrating outstanding compassion toward others, leadership in class and devotion to clients and their families. The Academic Excellence Award was presented to Francesca Bland and Taylor Brooke Ward.

SJR State’s nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and classes are offered at the Palatka, Orange Park and St. Augustine campuses.

SJR State offers additional health programs such as respiratory care, medical assisting EMT/paramedic, sonography, health information technology and radiologic technology. For more information on degree and certificate programs in the health care field, call (386) 312-4176 or visit SJRstate.edu.

Photos from the ceremony can be viewed SJR State's flickr page.

ASN graduates

LPN Bridge graduates