St. Elizabeth College of Nursing in Utica recently graduated 81 new nurses.
Of the 81 graduates, 57 attended weekday classes and 24 participated in the evening-weekend program. The 113th graduation ceremony was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Utica, following a procession across Genesee Street.
The valedictorian was Alexis Jory of Frankfort. Salutatorians were Rebecca Schmitt of Utica and Sarah Pickering of Sherrill.
College President Varinya Sheppard and Jessica Eldred Beverly Plante, deans of student and faculty development at SECON, presented the graduates with their Associate in Applied Science degrees. Senior class advisers Michelle Wolff and Lauren Fallon presented them with the SECON pin.
Darlene Stromstad, president-CEO of the Mohawk Valley Health System, welcomed the graduates, faculty, staff and participants. The Rev. Joseph Salerno, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, gave the commencement address.
SECON is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., and registered by the New York State Education Department.