Health care professionals honored in 2025 pinning ceremony at Indiana University Kokomo

Last Updated on May 10, 2025 by Cass County Communication Network

KOKOMO, Ind. — Indiana University Kokomo’s School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions (SNAHP) honored its 2025 graduates at its traditional pinning ceremony on Thursday (May 8) in Havens Auditorium.

The graduates include the inaugural class of the campus’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Five students earned the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, along with four receiving a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science and 39 earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Carolyn Townsend, interim dean, welcomed the graduating class, family, friends, faculty, and staff to the momentous occasion, recognizing the hard work, dedication, and commitment they have shown in their journey to become health care professionals.

“Each of you has a unique story and path that has led you to this point,” she said. “You have faced challenges and overcome obstacles, and today, you stand ready to take on the responsibilities of a professional healthcare provider. Your journey does not end here; it is just the beginning. As you step into your healthcare role, you will encounter new challenges and opportunities for growth. You will be called upon to make difficult decisions and to provide care in complex and sometimes uncertain situations. But know that you are not alone. You are part of a larger community of professionals to support, guide, and share your successes and struggles.”

She encouraged the graduates to wear their professional pins with pride, as a reminder of their commitment to excellence, and of the profound impact they will have on the lives of their patients and their families.

Christina Douglas, clinical assistant professor and OTA program director, congratulated the first cohort graduating from the program and presented their pins.

“This pin signifies your commitment to the core principles of occupational therapy: empowering individuals to engage in the everyday activities that bring purpose and joy to their lives,” she said. “It embodies the hard work, compassion, and creativity you have demonstrated in learning how to use occupations as powerful tools for recovery and growth. You are now equipped to help your clients live their fullest and most functional lives.”

Ten graduates participated in the Legacy pinning ceremony, receiving their pins from a family member who is also a registered nurse. They included Addie Cooper with her aunt Stacey Wilson; Mary Dada with her sister Elizabeth Omobo; Rylie Davison with her sister Brookelyn Agler; Brianna Enriquez with her mother Tina Enriquez; Ashley Houghtalen with her grandmother Debbie Houghtalen; Brooklyn Keafer with her mother Amanda Keafer; Elizabeth Martin with her mother Sara Mitchell; Jenna Smith with her mother Jennifer Smith; Sarah Smith with her mother Julie Smith; and Delaney Zeck with her aunt Dawn Pullen.

Brielle Remmenga led the OTA class in reciting the Occupational Therapy Assistant Pledge and Creed, while Makenna Leicht led nursing students in the Nursing Pledge.

Students Delaney Zeck and Jenna Smith also addressed their classmates, offering words of wisdom and memories of their time together.

“When I look back on our very first year as nursing students, I see wide-eyed, ambitious kids,” Smith said. “Now, when I look at us, I see tired-eyed, ambitious adults eager to take on our next challenge and care for people. With all the late night and early morning lectures, study groups, simulations, and classes that got harder, harder, and somehow even harder, we had to be each other’s support, cheerleaders, and teammates, and we were. We grew from a bunch of people who hardly knew each other into a family. I am so proud of all of us because I know we all fought tooth and nail to make it here today.

“We made it, now let’s go save some lives!”

Master of Science in Nursing graduates will also be recognized at the Master’s Hooding ceremony Friday.

Students honored include:

Veteran honor cords: Cole Carden, Hunter Carden, Galveston

Academic honor cords with highest distinction: Blake Banter, Kokomo; Brecken Good, Rossville;  Dana Hackney, Fishers; Ella Kantz, Greentown

Academic honor cords with high distinction: Sarah Smith, Kokomo

Honors Program graduate: Peter Sayers Burton, Kokomo

Outstanding Student in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program: Brecken Good, Rossville

Outstanding Student in the Pre-licensure Traditional BSN program: Blake Banter, Kokomo

Outstanding Student in the online Applied Health Science program: Dana Hackney, Fishers

Outstanding Student in the Master of Science in Nursing program: Crystal Vice

Those pinned included:

Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science

Fishers: Dana Hackney

Frankfort: Oscar Tovar

Kokomo: Janessa Betancort, Brittany Leann Stacy

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Alexandria: Jenna Sherrae Smith

Arcadia: Lauren Johnson

Bringhurst: Emma M. Webb

Carmel: Claire Rice

Crown Point: Lisa Smith

Ferdinand: Faith Suzanne Zazzetti

Flora: Mandy Nicole McGill

Fort Wayne: Piper Whetstone

Frankfort: Brooklyn Renee Keafer, Allison N. Robbins

Galveston: Cole Wayne Carden, Hunter C. Carden, Delaney Kaye Zeck

Greentown: Rylie Grace Davison, Ella Jane Kantz, Brooke Renee Thieke

Indianapolis: Mary Adewunmi Dada, Osazogie Lilibeth Enagbare

Jonesboro: Kaleigh Shaye Hollars

Kokomo: Kolby Blake Ahnert, Peter Sayers Burton, Elizabeth N. Martin, Brycen Gem Richmond, Savannah Kaye Rose, William Alan Roth, Sarah Smith

Lafayette: Erika Lynn Hollis, Abigail Talcott, Erin Teal

Logansport: Carter Matthew Harris, Galo Carolayn Mariely Salamanca

Monticello: Natalie Rodriguez

Noblesville: Ashley Nicole Houghtalen

Peru: Gracie Marie Krieg

Rossville: Addison Michelle Cooper

Russiaville: Cheryl Mae Dashiell

Upland: Brianna Nicole Enriquez

Westfield: David Konstantin Kapriyan

West Lafayette: Carole Dore

Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences

Rossville: Brecken Good

Kokomo: Bailie BreAnn Bautista

Frankfort: Aseneth Guijosa, Maria Elena Guijosa

Gas City: Brielle Nicolle Remmenga

SOURCE: News release from Indiana University Kokomo

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.