Monday, May 19
9:30 a.m.
New York City Center
131 W. 55th St.
407 bachelor degree graduates 

New York City Center took on an air of celebration as family and friends gathered to watch their loved ones graduate from the College of Nursing. Graduates waved to family members in the balcony and cheered loudly as dean Eileen Sullivan-Marx congratulated them on their accomplishments. The commencement ceremony, which honored undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, focused on staying true to values while moving forward in the changing world of health care. The CEO of the National League of Nursing, Beverly Malone, was the keynote speaker, and she encouraged students to view this new stage of their lives as a journey and to always bring purpose, power and passion with them. Undergraduate student speaker Alyssa Relos challenged her fellow classmates to remember who they are and why they chose this career when presented with seemingly impossible challenges, reminding them to leap forward wholeheartedly even when they are most afraid. Her parting wish for the class of 2014 was to “see things that startle you, feel things you’ve never felt before and live a life you are proud of.” The ceremony ended with the graduates and present faculty members reciting the Florence Nightingale pledge together.

Bryna Shuman is features editor. Email her at [email protected].