The iconic UCLA Royce Hall was filled with 232 nursing graduates, along with more than 1,000 family, friends, distinguished guests, faculty and staff on Saturday, June 11 for the UCLA Nursing 2022 Commencement Ceremony.
“To all the graduates, your graduation is truly a remarkable achievement and milestone in your life reflecting your determination, dedication, and resilience” said Lin Zhan, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean of the UCLA School of Nursing.
“As graduates of the UCLA School of Nursing, you are following in the footsteps of many nurse leaders who have paved the way in advances in research, in advances in education, practice, and policy,” said Deborah Trautman, President & CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the commencement keynote speaker. “This education you received benefits not only you, it benefits our profession, the patients, and the communities that we will serve. You are the future of improving health and health care.”
Nursing’s Associate Dean of Student Affairs Elizabeth Yzquierdo, Ed.D., MPH, presided over the commencement and thanked UCLA Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Monroe Gorden for his congratulatory remarks.
Student speakers represented each academic program, including Anna Dermenchyan, PhD Program, Jhoanna Anuran-Torres, DNP Program, Demetri Fisher II, the MECN program, Nicole Ransbottom, APRN Program, and Clarissa Cabil, BS Program.
Each of them delivered a poignant address to his or her fellow graduates, reflecting their passion, determination, and courage.
“Take a moment to close your eyes, take a deep breath and bask in this moment. If you ever doubt yourself, come back to this moment where you are a product of your hard work, a product of your capability, a product of what you can achieve, a testament of your faith,” said Fisher. “If I never see you again after this day, do me a favor, do yourself a favor, do the world a favor and never forget your power. Remind yourself of your power each and every day.”
The faculty, staff and administrators at the UCLA School of Nursing congratulate each of our graduates and look forward to seeing all that you accomplish next.
A digital version of the commencement program is available here.
