08 May WSC Honors Graduates this Week
WILLISTON, N.D. – Williston State College will celebrate its graduating students for the 2018-2019 academic year this Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10 with two of its most anticipated events.
For the first time, the Nursing Pinning Ceremony will be held on the Thursday evening prior to graduation. This program is a special event for all of the graduating Associate Degree Nursing students and their families and the WSC Nursing Department.
The program will be held in the Skadeland Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. Seventeen graduating nurses will receive their ceremonial pin and will recite the Florence Nightingale Pledge.
“It is wonderful to see all the nursing students so excited about graduation and pinning,” stated Alex Haskell, Health and Wellness Administrative Assistant. “This ceremony is our way of honoring all of the hard work and sacrifices they have made in order to pursue this career path. All of the AD’s will make spectacular nurses.”
WSC’s Fifty-Eighth Commencement ceremony will follow on Friday, May 10, 2019 in the Well at 10:00 a.m. where State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) Member, Kathleen Neset will speak.
“We anticipate awarding 376 degrees to 234 graduates, in 13 different programs offered at Williston State,” explained Jen Nebeker, Registrar and Research Analyst at WSC. “We are excited that of the 234 graduates, 167 have chosen to walk in the ceremony. It is a momentous occasion for our students and we are excited to honor them and celebrate their success at WSC.”
Graduates from WSC often earn more than one degree. From fall to summer of the 2018-2019 academic year, 411 degrees are anticipated to be awarded for 234 graduates. These awarded degrees include: 203 Associates in Arts or Associates in Science, 85 Associates of Applied Sciences, 57 Certificates, and 31 Certificates of Completion.
Of the 234 students anticipating graduation, nearly 45% received either the Williams or Regional County Scholarships.
In addition to degrees, four recognition groups will be recognizable with designated stoles and/or cords.
Honor students (3.5 or higher GPA) will be recognized with gold tassels.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), WSC’s honor society, will wear gold stoles.
Student Senators, student liaisons to college administration, staff, faculty, and alumni, will wear green and white cords.
Veterans will be recognized with red, white, and blue cords.
Teton LEAD students have completed 40 hours of service learning during the academic year and will also be recognized in the commencement program.
“Commencement is such an honored day because as faculty/staff we see first-hand the growth of these students throughout their time here,” explained Karissa Kjos, WSC Student Life Coordinator. “Many of these students are transferring on to advance their degrees while others are taking their steps into a chosen career path. We could not be prouder of them for achieving this high accomplishment!”
In addition to SBHE Member Neset’s commencement speech, Triten Teske and Abigayle Deubner will be the student speakers.
WSC faculty members, Gail Raasakka, WSC Nursing Program Director, and Lynne Raymond, Associate Professor of Psychology, will be recognized for Tenure and Kim Weismann, Associate Professor of Communication, will recognized for achieving the rank of Professor.
A free community BBQ sponsored by the WSC Foundation will be held for graduates, alumni, families, and friends in the Skadeland Gymnasium immediately following the ceremony.
Media are invited to attend the Commencement ceremony on Friday.
For more information, please visit www.willistonstate.edu, call 1.888.863.9455, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND.