LPN Pinning Completes One Step in a Career of Healthcare

The 11 members of Essex County College’s 2022 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) class proudly entered Smith Hall on January 20, 2023 to receive their well-earned LPN pins.

“This class is mighty in spirit, commitment and full of energy. They will need those characters and more in the Nursing profession,” said Dr. Gale Gage, Chair of the Division of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Olusegun Adeniyi, who served as LPN Class President, said growing up in Nigeria he frequently watched his mother work as an auxiliary nurse. “I would see people coming in to the doctor’s office sick and I would then see them leaving happy. I knew helping people like that was something I wanted to do,” the current Newark resident recalled.  

Olusegun plans on continuing his education after working as an LPN for a year. He is interested in pediatric and ICU nursing. At the pinning, he received the LPN Leadership Award and was class Salutatorian with a 3.41 grade point average.  

Co-Valedictorians, with 3.48 grade point averages, were Natasha Golding and Joseph Odirih.

Onyinye Okafor attributes her decision to pursue nursing as both family and cultural. “I’m Nigerian and it’s a Nigerian thing, she said proudly. In addition, she said some of her family members are either doctors or nurses.     

Onyinye, of Orange, plans to work and gain experience for awhile before pursuing her next goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

Bridgette Martin earned her Associate degree in General Science from ECC in 2021. That came after working nine years as a Certified Nursing Assistant as she now moves on as an LPN. “I’m trying not to west any time,” the East Orange resident said with a smile.

Bridgette said she took care of her grandmother in Jamaica, which helped spark her healthcare dream. At the ceremony, she received the Clinical Excellence Award.

Mariama Yanka, who received the Florence Nightingale Award, had the honor of leading the class in the recitation of the Nightingale Pledge. Asha Winters received the Community Service Award.

Next step is preparing for the upcoming National Council Licensure Examination (known as NCLEX).