Manhattanville University’s class of 4-year nursing students and accelerated students earned official pins marking their entry into the nursing profession.

 Fifteen undergraduate students were honored in a Pinning and Award Ceremony that celebrated their accomplishments. Another ten students also completed an accelerated nursing program for nurses who already had their undergraduate degrees.

“Entering the nursing field is a serious commitment, but when I think that this class of undergraduate students made the decision to become nurses during COVID, I am truly impressed with their passion for the profession and their dedication to their clinical practice,’’ said Debra Simons, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Ph.D. “I congratulate all our graduates and commend them on completing this very rigorous program. Welcome to nursing.’’

The Pinning Ceremony is a tradition dating back to the 1880s and inspired by Florence Nightingale who blazed the trail for nurses on the frontlines. The students’ formal commencement ceremony was on May 11.

Manhattanville launched its nursing program in 2020. It offers two degrees in nursing: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for traditional 4-year and transfer students as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for second-degree students who already hold a bachelor’s degree. It also added a master’s degree track Family Nurse Practitioner program and recently added a master’s degree program for nursing leaders. 

Bachelor of Science in the Nursing Major (Traditional 4-year undergraduate)

• Kayla Alexander

• Tashana R. Anderson

• Daniel E. Baskin

• Tiffany Batista

• Nicole H. Cinquemani

• Shantea Gordon

• Maria Llarin Amaya (undeclared)

• Colleen MacNeil

• Victoria Mancini

• Nataly Ortiz

• Quin J. Peeples

• Devon Poccia

• Lindsay Reyes

• Giavanna D. Rosso

• Angelina Schneider

Bachelor of Science in the Nursing Major (Accelerated Second Degree undergraduate):

• Amanda Charles

• Aniedi Akpan

• Katie A. Bannon

• Brandon Castillo

• Kristi Fendrich

• Kendrah Herbert

• Mimose Jean

• Nadia D. Khettane

• Allison Laruffa

• Crystal Zhou

Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social responsibility. For three years in a row, “U.S. News and World Report” has ranked Manhattanville the number one private, non-profit institution in New York among Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its primarily residential and diverse student body. The university serves more than 1,300 undergraduate students and 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the university offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from more than 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities and 24 NCAA Division III teams.