Buckeye Hills Career Center’s Practical Nursing (PN) program held a Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday, September 9, celebrating fourteen students for their accomplishments in successfully completing BHCC’s Practical Nursing program.
The Practical Nursing program consists of 1,382 hours of training, including 564 hours of lab and clinical experience. During their clinical experience, students exercise the skills they learn in a variety of hospital settings including geriatrics, medical-surgical, pediatrics, obstetrics, and emergency nursing. Clinicals are completed at various locations throughout the region including Four Winds Community, Jenkins Care Community, Abbyshire Place, Holzer Senior Care, Holzer Medical Center, Adena Regional Medical Center, Southern Ohio Medical Center, and Rivers Health.
The ceremony opened with the student processional and recitation of the Nurse’s Prayer. Dr. Amber Nowlin, DNP, RN, PN Program Coordinator welcomed all in attendance, and Tiffany Myers, Class President, was the student speaker for the evening.
Scholarships were then awarded by Holzer Health Systems, Rivers Health, and the Nurse Honor Guard of the Ohio Valley. The Best in Clinical Performance Award was given by Holzer Health Systems to Sarah McNerlin and presented by Lisa Detty, MSN, RN, Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer and Nathan Beaver, Nurse Recruiter. The Best-in-Class Performance Award was given by Rivers Health to Macy Bell and presented by Lori McFarland, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CLSSGB, Chief Nursing Officer, and Jarod Zelaska, Executive Director of Human Resources. The Spirit of Nursing Award was given by the Nurse Honor Guard of the Ohio Valley to Kira Copas and presented by Candace Moore, Melody Hill and Margie Kemper.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of pins by program instructors. Students that received pins included Jordyn Marie Barrett, Macy Renee Bell, Donna Jean Borden, Kira Jayde Copas, Chloe Elizabeth Jade Costilow, Brittany Marie Gibbs, Katlyn Marie Hinzman, Jeremiah Robert Augusta Kerr, Shelby Kay McCourt, Sarah Beth McNerlin, Tiffany Marie Myers, Kiley Danielle Rinehart, Kortney Dawn Sprouse, and Rose Ann Vinson.
Program lead instructors included Jennifer Nance, BSN, RN; Cara Gibson, BSN, RN; Mary Shamblin, MSN Ed., RN; Madison Deel-William, BSN, RN; and Cheyenne Huffman, BSN, RN.
The students are now eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Upon passing the NCLEX-PN, students earn their license and their LPN credential.
The Practical Nursing program is held twice annually with 48-week cohorts beginning in January and September. Enrollment for the January 2027 Practical Nursing Program is open now through October 30, 2026. Apply or view more information about enrollment here. View the full photo gallery from the event here.