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The state’s oldest nursing school is preparing to transition from a two-year diploma program to a four-year bachelor of science in nursing program at the University of Bridgeport this fall.
“You got started – now keep going,” was the message repeated to graduates by Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing Director Linda Podolak at the ceremony in UB’s Arnold Bernhard Center for Arts and Humanities. “Today is a beginning. Be open, learn from your experiences and find the leader within to provide the best care to your patients.”
Despite the bittersweet occasion, the mood of the 30 graduates from the accelerated class of December 2016 and 50 from the traditional class of May 2017 was celebratory. (See class lists below.)
“This is a day we not only celebrate memories as the school closes, but we also look ahead to the future,” said MaryEllen Kosturko, Bridgeport Hospital Senior Vice President of Patient Care Operations and the School of Nursing. “Stay involved in the nursing profession and it will open doors for you.”
Delivering the class message, Angela Miano of Trumbull, who had the highest grade point average in the accelerated class, said, “We wear many different hats and perform many different roles but at the center of it all is our patients. They may forget what you did and what you said but they will never forget the way you made them feel.”
Another Trumbull resident, Lisa Eldridge, had the second highest GPA in the accelerated class, while Haley Krivensky of Oxford and Raimonda Skeryte of Milford had the highest and second-highest GPA in the traditional class. They were among two dozen students who received special awards and scholarships at the commencement.
Class of December 2016
- Beacon Falls – Kristi Hames, Amanda Perez
- Branford – Elizabeth Lionetti, Thomas Lydtz
- Bridgeport – Pierre Barthelemy, Mirna Diaz, Yolanda Hall
- Cheshire – Allison Ciociola
- East Haven – Angelina DeMarco
- Hamden – Jessica Jones, Naim Langston, Sunny Ruggeri
- Monroe – Michael Silva
- North Branford – Tamara Rusconi
- Norwalk – Sandy Armatis
- Prospect – Stephanie Kolodziej
- Seymour – Mary-Kate Durette, Tiffany Kubik
- Shelton – Kaitlin Dalton, Jessica Kuhn
- Stratford – Jalice Bryan
- Trumbull – Lisa Eldridge, Angela Miano
- Wallingford – Adam Boyer, Matthew Haley
- West Haven – Jodi Burton, Michelle Nachand, Alex Opuszynski
- Woodbridge – Anndrea Hollingsworth, Deborah Rardin
Class of May 2017
- Ansonia – Matthew Clifford
- Bethel – Julianna Lavras
- Bridgeport – Raquel Arce, Nicole Carvalho, Abria Scott, Martine Thelusma, Judyath Thomas, Jessica Vasquez, Jaevaun Wallace, Ajin Yousif
- Brookfield – Erica Rende
- Derby – Amanda Nealy
- East Haven – Kaitlyn Vance
- Fairfield – Ernesta Gadalla
- Hamden – Rachel Edelman, Annemarie Franco
- Killingworth – Marina Annino
- Meriden – Marlene Acosta
- Middletown – Trevor Laverngne, Jessica Walsh
- Milford – Samuel June, Raimonda Skeryte
- Monroe – Georgette Archer
- New Haven – Jeremy Day, Michelle Kearns, Twonisha Wright
- New Milford – Nikki Michelsen
- Newtown – Christopher Capozza
- North Branford – Brittany Panaroni
- North Haven – Keilan LaBranche
- Oxford – Haley Krivensky
- Seymour – Diana Dlugolenski, Amanda Frankel, Jill Kalici
- Shelton – Danielle Battaglia, Brian Jakabcin, Amy Mulkern, Piotr Niedzwiecki
- Sherman – Lisa DeBetta
- Southbury – Melissa Casey
- Southington – Kayla Commendatore
- Stratford – Susan Demers, Briana Workman
- Trumbull – Megan Morabito, Alexandra Moreira
- Waterbury – Ethna Etienne, Alexis Morales
- West Haven – Stacey Fields
- Winsted – Jessica Valenta
- Wolcott – Spenser Griffin
The transition was prompted by a 2010 Institute of Medicine report and other national patient safety recommendations to raise nursing education standards. BHSN’s Surgical Technology program will transition to Housatonic Community College in the fall and be elevated to an associate’s degree program. The BHSN Sterile Processing program will also move to HCC.
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