First Graduating Class of Nursing Students Celebrated During 2022 Commencement

Ferrum College celebrated the first graduating class of nursing students at a pinning ceremony held in Vaughn Chapel on Friday, April 22, 2022.

Seven students graduated from either the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program or the pre-licensure BSN program, which launched in fall semester 2020 and spring semester 2021, respectively.

The College added the two new nursing programs to its curriculum to help address the nationwide shortage of nurses. Former Division of Nursing Chair Kimberly Brown noted the graduation of the first nursing students at Ferrum College was a historic event and the nursing faculty was honored to witness the transformation the students made over the past four years.

“They arrived at Ferrum with vague ideas about what life might be like at the college finish line. They could not foresee, however, the magnitude of growth they would experience in terms of obtaining and applying knowledge in caring and competent ways. These graduates have learned to trust themselves and each other, embody the desire to serve others, and exude pride in their accomplishments,” said Brown.

A program that began a few years ago came to fruition in spring 2022.

The “Ferrum Promise” allows students with an appropriate associate’s degree from a Virginia community college to transfer to Ferrum College and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four semesters/two years if they complete the required courses and hit each benchmark. If the student does not complete their bachelor’s degree in those two years after transferring, the rest of their tuition is free.

Among the first students to go through the program was Claudia Cooke, who walked the commencement stage for a Bachelor of Social Work degree during the graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Cooke received her associate’s in General Studies with a specialization in Human Services from Patrick Henry Community College in December of 2019. In August of 2020, Cooke enrolled and transferred to Ferrum College to major in Social Work.

“I was surprised to know that I was (one of the first ones) to go through this program,” Cooke said.