Casey Nursing Graduate Honored at Pinning Ceremony

Feature Photo Caption: The Fall 2025 graduates of the Lake Land College LPN to ADN Bridge program. Pictured front row (from left to right): Minnie Gadison, Mattoon; Chelsea Munoz, Effingham; Rebecca Teal, Beecher City;¬¬¬ Medora Seibert, Mode; Aila-Jai Woomer, Effingham; Ella Shuler, Neoga; Stormy Judson, Casey; Brandy Watson, Beecher City. Pictured back row (from left to right): Ava King, Effingham; Paul Smith, Effingham; Michelle Fultz, Sullivan; Taylor Hall, Paris; Cassie Fancher, Mason; Jessica Williamson, Sullivan; Aimee Gooden, Charleston; Taylor Hawbaker, Shelbyville.

Graduating nurses marked a major career milestone as they received their pins during the 2025 Lake Land College Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) Bridge program pinning ceremony.

The LPN to ADN Bridge program provides a dedicated pathway for current Licensed Practical Nurses to advance in their careers, enabling them to become registered nurses with one additional year of rigorous coursework.

During the ceremony, several students received awards in recognition of outstanding professionalism, patient care, and performance within the program.

Minnie Gadison of Mattoon received the Peer Award for demonstrating excellence in both the classroom and clinical settings through professionalism, a caring nature, and a cooperative spirit. The Patient Advocate Award was presented to Jessica Williamson of Sullivan for displaying professionalism and compassionate care throughout the ADN program.

Brandy Watson of Beecher City received the Heart of Positivity Award. Watson was recognized for demonstrating kindness, resilience, and care in every interaction, helping patients feel safe and valued.

Aimee Gooden of Charleston received the Marilyn Fuqua Thompson Nursing Award, an honor given annually to the graduating student considered to be the all-around best in the class. Selected by a faculty vote, the recipient must demonstrate superb professional skills and responsibility, leverage a strong scientific knowledge base to make wise decisions, and maintain high levels of compassion and composure, often in crisis situations. Gooden’s name will be engraved on a plaque located in the nursing skills lab in Neal Hall.

The students receiving pins at the ceremony included Cassie Fancher of Mason; Michelle Fultz and Jessica Williamson, both of Sullivan; Minnie Gadison of Mattoon; Aimee Gooden of Charleston; Taylor Hall of Paris; Taylor Hawbaker of Shelbyville; Stormy Judson of Casey; Medora Seibert of Mode; Ella Shuler of Neoga; Rebecca Teal and Brandy Watson, both of Beecher City; and Ava King, Chelsea Munoz, Paul Smith, and Aila-Jai Woomer, all of Effingham.