The School of Nursing and Health Studies Awards Ceremony made a vibrant return to the Shalala Student Center on December 15 amid a sea of cheers, hugs, selfies, and standing ovations, not to mention some well-earned tears of joy.
Over 200 graduates were recognized in the following academic programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing, Post-Master’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certificate, Accelerated Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing, BS in Health Science, and BS in Public Health.
“Individually, each of these 204 graduates has so much to offer the world,” said Dean Cindy L. Munro. “Together they are a force to be reckoned with—representing the stunningly bright future of health care and health in our communities.”
During her remarks, Dean Munro also announced that SONHS is on the verge of celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, and she invited Renee Longini, BSN ’09, DNP ’16, president of the SONHS Alumni Association, to welcome the school’s newest group of alumni. “You should all be very proud of yourselves and each other,” said Longini.
The celebration for graduating students drew hundreds of enthusiastic attendees. “I love you, Dr. Sanchez!” exclaimed one relative when DNP graduate Stephanie Sanchez-Zegarra was called to the stage. Also on hand and in uniform was University of Miami Police Department Sergeant Addy Villanueva, who came to support her daughter Nina Villanueva, an ABSN program graduate. Another ABSN grad, Chana Kesserman, had four generations in attendance, including more than half a dozen of her own children.
The Fall ’22 class included some family members among its graduates as well. Sisters Mandee and Rachel Hahamoff and mother-daughter duo Paula Boling, BHS ’00, and Margarita Espinal all earned ABSN degrees together. “My mother is my best friend,” gushed Espinal. “I wanted to go to school with her, and I manifested it.”
The ceremony closed with a rousing standing ovation initiated by the graduates themselves. It was a joyous and emotional night for many, including Kevin Buenaflor, ABSN ’22. who became visibly choked up when his name was called and his peers erupted in applause. Though the accelerated BSN program is just one intense year, Buenaflor said his road to graduation “has been the culmination of five years of hard work and contemplating life.”
The evening ended with a lively reception. Commencement took place the next day, on December 16.
The following are the Fall 2022 SONHS Individual Award recipients:
- Premoboere Okoinyan: Doctor of Nursing Practice, Excellence in Academic & Clinical Performance Award
- Kaylene K. Baugh: BSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program, Excellence in Academic and Clinical Performance Agatha Hodgins Award
- Sandra Rosenberg: Post-Master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Excellence in Academic & Clinical Performance Award
- Danielle N. Bibelheimer: Accelerated BSN, Excellence in Academic and Clinical Performance Award
- Erin L. Domash: Accelerated BSN, Excellence in Leadership Award
- Adriana Eliese Grewe: Bachelor of Science in Health Science, Academic Excellence Performance Award
Image links:
DEC 15; Awards Ceremony: Fall Award Ceremony - December 15, 2022 - jennyabreu
DEC 16; Fall Commencement, Undergraduate: 10:00AM-Undergraduate Ceremony - jennyabreu
