Eight PhD students, 89 traditional BSN students, three RNs who earned their BSN, 35 MSN/post-master's students and countless family members and friends packed the St. Thomas of Villanova Church and several simulcast locations in Driscoll Hall to honor the achievements of the Class of 2013 during the May 18th Convocation. The following day, BSN candidate Julie Ubriaco was the student Commencement speaker as she and her classmates graduated.
The College acknowledged with certificates those students who excelled academically and/or served the College in various capacities. Students who were recently commissioned into the Army and Navy Nurse Corps where also acknowledged.
The following awards were given to undergraduate and graduate degree candidates at Convocation:
College of Nursing Medallion for Distinguished Academic Achievement
Marie E. McClure, BSN; Katelyn Elizabeth Cadigan, MSN, RN; and Kimberly Thavenet Callaghan, MSN, RN
Joseph Petro and Helen Yura-Petro Award for Achievement in Nursing Theory
Laura J. Quaresima, BSN
H. Elaine McCaully Award for Clinical Excellence
Kayla M. Fogarty, BSN
The Reverend Francis X.N. McGuire, O.S.A. Award of the Villanova University Alumni Association
Jennifer M. Kicak, BSN
The Hazel Johnson Leadership Award
Ensign (SS) John W. Barrow, USN, NC, BSN
Claire M. Manfredi Graduate Nursing Leadership Award
Lynn M. Boyle, MSN, RN
Distinguished Dissertation Award
Margaret Hattori-Uchima, PhD, RN
Senior Julie Ubriaco was the student speaker at the May 19th Commencement. Watch the video here. Julie is introduced at time stamp 31:32.
In her speech, she referenced an early desire to learn sign language and asked graduates to look at their hands and gave examples of how they had been used to help others. She went on to say, "...These are the hands of nursing students who held stethoscopes and listened to heart beats. These are the hands of engineering students who built models and drafted plans. These are the hands of business students who analyzed data and marketed products. These are the hands of liberal arts and science students who designed projects and conducted research studies.
...Maybe we all have instinctively mastered a version of sign language unique to Villanova---it is the unspoken language of companionship, faith, and dedication we have all become fluent in these past four years at our University."
