May 2021 Graduates

Sixty-nine students received their nursing diplomas from the Trinitas School of Nursing for what would have been the 166th Convocation Ceremony on June 3. Fifty-eight women and 11 men became eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensing exam. The convocation ceremony was a hybrid event of in-person ceremony and taped speeches. The class gathered in person in two groups to maintain social distancing. The students received their awards, pins, and nursing diplomas in person. No outside visitors were allowed. The event was recorded and edited by the UCC Media department, and the premiere of the complete version of the ceremony was conducted on June 11, 2021 at 6 PM. A gift of the video was given by the school to each graduate.
“During the pandemic, the School of Nursing successfully underwent accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN),” said Dr. Roseminda Santee, Dean of the Trinitas School of Nursing, which is affiliated with Union College. “The school was granted the full eight years continuing accreditation by ACEN in March 2021. Graduates participated actively in the accreditation process. I am very proud of these graduates.”

Graduates of the School of Nursing include:
Shaska Andrews…………………………. Brooklyn, New York
Senita Cuffy Arku………………………. Newark, New Jersey
Sadiya Babb………………………… …… Harrison, New Jersey
Dorota M. Baranowski…………………. Brooklyn, New York
Rose Nahama Bellune …………………. Valley, Stream, New York
Norman Blake………………….………… Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania
Alyssa Marie Brady……………………..South Amboy, New Jersey
Megan Brown………………………………Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Kristine Joy Castillo ……………………..Union, New Jersey
Ketsia Cetoute ………………………………Hillside, New Jersey
Tracy Cheung ……………………………….Jersey City, New Jersey
Tamara A. Crudup ……………………….St. Albans, New York
Marie Elizabeth Davis-Daguilh……….Newark, New Jersey
Madeling De La Cruz….………………….Elizabeth, New Jersey
Triciamarie Deluca ……………………… Staten Island, New York
Yosley Diaz……… ………………………… Elizabeth, New Jersey
Joana Rita Dunhao………………………..Newark, New Jersey
Rowena M. Estoya …………………………Dunellen, New Jersey
Lissette Garcia-McNeil…………………….Elizabeth, New Jersey
Brittany Renee Giles……….. ……………. Staten Island, New York
Samantha Villar Gonzalez………………..Union, New Jersey
Taylor Grace…………….…………………… Jersey City, New Jersey
Marlon Ray Graham ………………………North Brunswick, New Jersey
Pearl A. Gumaroy……………………………Linden, New Jersey
Shenee Takisha Haynes…………………… Irvington, New Jersey
Caterine Hernandez…………………………Linden, New Jersey
Natasha Joycelyn Hicks……………………Roselle, New Jersey
Mitchell Jason Hollander…………………..Springfield, New Jersey
Jason J. Hunte………………………………….Irvington, New Jersey
Sujeiry Irizarry…… …………………………Hillside, New Jersey
Chioma Ulunma Iwueke……………………Hillside, New Jersey
Jolinette Joseph ……………………………….Hillside, New Jersey
Leila Kavanagh ……………………………….Linden, New Jersey
Julia Jessica Khamis.. ……………………….Staten Island, New York
Natalia Knapp……… ……………………….. Cranford, New Jersey
Marta Konopka…… …………………………. Kearny, New Jersey
Jesus Lazo…………………………… ……………. Elizabeth, New Jersey
Joselynne Esmeralda Lazo Cruz……………. Elizabeth, New Jersey
Geraldine Santamaria Lozano……………… Elizabeth, New Jersey
Jane W. Macharia ……………………………… Elizabeth, New Jersey
Jeludys Claudia Marzan ……………………… Newark, New Jersey
Debra Esther Waruinu Mbugua……………..Vauxhall, New Jersey
Kayrie Mendez…………… ………………………Newark New Jersey
Eden Musumeci …………………………………….Cranford, New Jersey
Kirsten Newman …………………………………..Washington, New Jersey
Melani Fernandes Oliveira……………………. .Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth Chinenye Onwunali…………………..Roselle, New Jersey
Solomon O. Onyebeke…………………………….. Linden, New Jersey
Evelyn Michelle Pedroza ………………………. Roselle, New Jersey
Katherine L. Pena-Mosquera…………………. North Plainfield, New Jersey
Jeremie Naniel Tirado Perez………………….. Fords, New Jersey
Maggie Perez………………….…………………….. Staten Island New York
Evelyn Portilla……… …………………………….. Elizabeth, New Jersey
Douglas Powell………. ……………………………..Union, New Jersey
Courtney Tahairia Price..…………………. ……Hillside, New Jersey
Kemberly Rios……………….. ……………………..Linden, New Jersey
Jessica A. Rodriguez……………………… ………Hillside, New Jersey
Carla Salinas…….. ………………………………….. Elizabeth, New Jersey
Katerina Schoner ……………………………………Roselle Park, New Jersey
Nayara Coelho Silveira ………………………….. Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Danielle Soadwa………… ………………… ………Elizabeth, New Jersey
Venkatesan Sounderarajan……………………….Monmouth Junction, New Jersey
Marilyn Zorrila Steede …………………………….Linden, New Jersey
Marynes Suarez ……………………………………..Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Karen Sulca…………. ………………………………. Elizabeth, New Jersey
Aisha Villejoint………………………………………..Old Bridge, New Jersey
Precious Whitfield……………………………………Roselle, New Jersey
Ashley Youngblood …………………………………..Springfield, New Jersey
Bobby Yu………………… ……………………………..Edison, New Jersey

Award Winners

Awards were given to graduates as follows:
First Scholarship Award – Danielle Soadwa, Elizabeth
Second Scholarship Award – Megan Brown, Berkeley Heights, and Yosley Diaz, Elizabeth
Auxiliary Award – Yosley Diaz, Elizabeth
2021 Nursing Service Professional Transformation Award – Courtney Tahairia Price, Hillside
Lily Bierstein Memorial Award – Mitchell Jason Hollander, Springfield
Gerontological Nursing Award – Katherine L. Pena-Mosquera, North Plainfield
Alumni Association Award – Debra Esther Waruinu Mbugua, Vauxhall
Curtis Crumbley Memorial Award – Marlon Ray Graham, North Brunswick
Naeisha Massenburg Memorial Award – Sadiya Babb, Harrison
George F. Billington-Leadership Award – Melani Fernandes Oliveira, Elizabeth
Emily H. Wall Memorial Award – Samantha Villar Gonzalez, Union
Daisy Award – Marilyn Zorrila Steede, Linden

Trinitas School of Nursing, operated jointly by Trinitas Regional Medical Center and Union College, currently holds full accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and the New Jersey State Board of Nursing. The National League for Nursing has awarded the School of Nursing a fourth designation as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education status for the years 2015 – 2024 for Creating Environments that Enhance Student Learning and Professional Development. The School also holds a 20-year, 40-class national licensing examination (NCLEX) passage rate of 86.30% on first writing. For more information about Trinitas School of Nursing, visit www.trinitasschoolofnursing.org

About Trinitas Regional Medical Center:
Trinitas Regional Medical Center (TRMC), a major center for comprehensive health services for those who live and work in Central New Jersey, is a Catholic teaching medical center sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in partnership with Elizabethtown Health Care Foundation. With 12 Centers of Excellence across the continuum of care, Trinitas has distinguished itself in cardiology, cancer care, behavioral health, renal care, nursing education, diabetes management, maternity, wound healing and sleep medicine. For more information on Trinitas Regional Medical Center, visit: www.RWJBH.org/Trinitas or call (908) 994-5138.