Mid-State Technical College Recognizes Graduates of Nursing Program

Friday, December 20th, 2024 -- 1:00 PM

Mid-State Technical College recognized the achievements of its 37 Nursing program completers in a pinning ceremony Dec. 17 on the Wisconsin Rapids Campus.

Graduates were joined by their family and friends in the celebration. The nursing pinning ceremony is a celebratory endcap to a nursing student’s academic journey and a bridge between nursing school and a nursing career.

It honors and celebrates nursing students and their path to becoming a nurse. It is also a day of celebration for the nursing faculty who have helped the students reach their goals.

December 2024 Nursing graduate, Chiaki Friemoth of Neillsville, considers the nursing pinning ceremony to be a pivotal moment in the nursing journey. “It recognizes our hard work, perseverance, sacrifices and everything in between to get to where we are today,” she said.

After graduation, Friemoth will begin Marshfield Clinic’s Emergency Department (ED) Critical Care Nurse Residency Program in Marshfield. “I found out about Mid-State’s Nursing program’s stellar reputation before I started, so I was glad I made the right decision,” Friemoth added.

“It is a great foundation when working towards being an RN, then you have the option to do a BSN after if you choose to. I really liked that our instructors have first-hand experiences that they share with us and incorporate in their lectures.”

“I am incredibly proud of our Nursing graduates,” said Deb Johnson-Schuh, dean of the School of Nursing. “The pinning ceremony marks not just the culmination of hard work, but the beginning of a lifelong commitment to caring for others. The journey to becoming a nurse is driven by passion and a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families.”

“Our community needs more nurses, those who are not only prepared with the knowledge and expertise but who also embody the heart and empathy required to provide exceptional care,” added Johnson-Schuh. “I have no doubt this group of graduates will rise to meet this critical need and make an enduring impact in healthcare.”

For Mid-State’s pinning ceremony, each graduating student selects a registered nurse who is a family member, friend or faculty member to join them on stage to place the nursing pin on the graduate during the ceremony, welcoming them into the profession of nursing.

Kayla Schladweiler, Warrens, a December Nursing graduate, has been accepted to the RN Transition to Practice Residency Program at the Tomah VA Medical Center.

“I first heard about Mid-State through some coworkers who highly recommended going to Mid-State,” said Schladweiler, who completed the Nursing program alongside her cousin, Brooke Myher.

“My favorite memories from nursing school are the study dates Brooke and I had before tests, the carpooling to classes with all the laughs and jam sessions we shared and the friends that have been made along the way.”

“I chose nursing because I love how big of an impact you can make in someone's life in this profession,” said Nursing graduate Brooke Myher, Norwalk, who has accepted a job at Tomah Health in acute care where she was previously a CNA and a nurse intern.

“It is stressful, but it is so rewarding. I love healthcare as a whole and I really enjoy learning about what makes a person who they are and how I can be there to help them in times of need.”

Following are Mid-State’s fall 2024 Nursing graduates recognized in the Dec. 17 nursing pinning ceremony:

Following are Mid-State’s fall 2024 Nursing graduates recognized in the Dec. 17 nursing pinning ceremony.

Allison Bertrand – Stevens Point

Allie Blanchard – Schofield

Lucy Bootz – Verona

Ashly Canapa – Wisconsin Rapids

Caitlin Casey – Wisconsin Rapids

Nicole Chapley – Wisconsin Rapids

Samantha Cowart – Stevens Point

Molly Desrochers – New London

Jasmin Duranceau – Birnamwood

Chiaki Friemoth – Neillsville

Abigail Fuller – Rudolph

Kristine Gatlin – Marshfield

Fiona Gonzalez Pilsner – Stevens Point

Samantha Hanley – Wisconsin Rapids

Samantha Hoch – Stevens Point

Mia Iwinski – Wisconsin Rapids

Mataya Kado – Stevens Point

Ashley Koch – Wisconsin Rapids

Julia Lang – Plover

Shantel Masonick – Nekoosa

Taylor Modrzewski – Stevens Point

Logan Multerer – Stratford

Brooke Myher – Norwalk

Sara Novitzke – Marshfield

Serenity Perkins – Neenah

Sierra Petrusky – Plainfield

Abby Ruedinger – Larsen

Maria Salinas – Waupaca

Kylee Scheunemann – Spencer

Kayla Schladweiler – Warrens

Celina Stillman – Port Edwards

Kelsey Strong – Stevens Point

Chloe Theisen – Wisconsin Rapids

Alivia Veres – Stevens Point

Abigail Wangen – Stevens Point

Jonathan Weishaar – Westfield

Joelle Zuelsdorff – Medford

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