Graduates of UDC Community College’s Associate of Applied Sciences in Nursing (AASN) Program were honored on December 13 during a Nursing Education Pinning Ceremony on the Lamond-Riggs Campus. Three of the graduates will be matriculating into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at UDC’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES).

The 15 graduates who participated in the Nursing Education Pinning Ceremony were: Tosha Cornish, Felicia Davis, Javay Engelking-Scott, Therese Etenghe, Carlese Gamble, Chidinma Madubuibe, Tiffany McPherson, Javan Menzies, Oluwakemi Laoye, Julia Lum, Cristina Morales, Obinna Nkwocha, Paul Stanton, Edosa Regea, and Sydney Walker.

“I always feel extra special when I attend a ceremony for two disciplines – nursing and education graduates. Think about this, because you don’t go into nursing and you don’t go into education unless there’s something in your spirit that drives you to serve. You’re going to have a great career. You’re going to make some good money, but that’s not why you’re doing this,” said UDC President Maurice D. Edington, Ph.D.

“You’re doing this because in each one of your hearts, there’s a strong passion and desire to serve, and I always feel special when I look at you. I’m looking at the next generation of service leaders, and I just want to commend each one of you for what you’ve done and what you’re going to do.  As you go on to be this wonderful, great, strong, dynamic new person, I want you to remember one thing,” he said.

“Don’t forget where you came from. The same way you don’t forget who raised you, the same way you represent your family and your household well, I know I don’t have to tell you, don’t forget where you came from. Stick your chest out. Tell everybody where you went to school with pride, and when you have the opportunity, stand up and send others by. Keep the door open,” Edington said.

“We want to continue to be the strong pipeline of this excellent institution that does something better than others. Since I’ve been in DC, nobody that I’ve seen alters lives, provides opportunities, provides a pathway to economic mobility, and prosperity better than UDC,” the President added.

Dr. Sharon Beasley, Director of Nursing Education, announced that two graduates were awarded scholarships from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), including one who was not in attendance at the ceremony. The scholarship award increased in 2023 from $2500 to $5000.

The scholarship was awarded to Chidinma Madubuibe, a December 2023 graduate and Nicoline Ngwa who graduated from the AASN program in 2022 and is currently in the BSN program. Nwga was not in attendance.

In addition, the scholarship was named after Lena Santos Ferguson, a civil rights advocate who fought for the admittance of people of color to the DAR after she was denied membership to a DC chapter after applying multiple times.

DAR is a non-partisan, non-profit women’s service organization. It is made up of about 190,000 members who are direct descendants of those who contributed to the fight for independence during the American Revolution. They are focused on community service and promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. They have been providing scholarships to students nationwide for more than 100 years, according to Lee Rorrer Holifield, National Vice Chair of the DAR Lena Ferguson Scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded to students in UDC’s nursing program.

“Lena Santos Ferguson was a catalyst for change. Because of her struggle to become a member of the DAR in the 1980s, the Daughters of the American Revolution took action to make sure that no chapter may discriminate against an applicant on the basis of race or creed and actively promoted inclusivity throughout the national society,” said Holifield.

“Her endeavors to become a DAR member lasted from 1980 to 1983 after her initial application was not advanced by a local DAR chapter. After she became a DAR member at the national level, an agreement was reached in 1984 between Mrs. Ferguson and DAR that resulted in DAR revising its national bylaws to bar discrimination in any chapter on the basis of race or creed,” Holifield said.

“DAR also focused more research on the Revolutionary War patriots of color and supported students of color in the Washington, DC, community throughout DAR scholarships. In 2023, DAR renamed its Washington, DC nursing scholarship as the Daughters of the American Revolution Lena Santos Ferguson Scholarship in honor of Mrs. Ferguson and her contributions that changed DAR for the better,” she added.