El Paso Community College's (EPCC) Nursing Program celebrated a significant milestone with its 50th Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) Pinning Ceremony, acknowledging the achievements of 85 nursing graduates as detailed in an article by the institution. The commencement not only marked half a century of nurturing healthcare professionals but also featured the first DAISY Award bestowed on both a faculty member and a student, with Nursing Instructor Stephanie Baldwin and student Alexa Rodriguez being the honorees, as detailed by EPCC News.
Accompanied by mariachi music and joined by hundreds of family members, the graduates took the stage to much fanfare; EPCC cabinet members, administrators, faculty, and staff were also present to witness the occasion. Daniel Parada, an instructor who had spent 18 years as a factory worker in Juarez, Mexico, before entering the medical field, served as the Faculty Keynote Speaker, and Carlos Mercado as the student speaker, both reflecting on the transformative journey that the pinning ceremony signifies. “Today we celebrate your journey, your sacrifices, your resilience, and above all, your calling," Parada said, as per EPCC News, reinforcing the emotional weight of this rite of passage. Carlos Mercado, expressing camaraderie and pride, addressed his peers, "I am really proud of you guys, I could not have chosen a better group to graduate with."
The legacy of EPCC's Nursing program spans across five decades with its inception in 1972, and has since ushered over 6,100 nurses into the healthcare system, averaging about 175 graduates annually. The school's Dean of Nursing, Dr. Hafid Guerrero, highlighted this particular class for its size and historical placement as the 50th, saying, “This morning is very special, not only is it one of the largest graduating classes we have had in years, but you mark the 50th graduating class, something to be very proud of," as obtained by EPCC News, during the ceremony as he praised the adherence to strength, commitment, and compassion by the students. Guerrero also pointed out the various roles within the community and beyond where EPCC nursing graduates make an impact, ranging from direct patient care to influential positions in administration, research, and higher education.
