Craig Bernstein Director | Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
Craig Bernstein Director | Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
Mid-State Technical College honored 44 nursing graduates in a pinning ceremony on May 20 at the Wisconsin Rapids Campus. The event marked the transition from academic studies to professional nursing careers.
Laura Ewer, one of the graduates from Pittsville, expressed her appreciation for her instructors. "My favorite part about the Nursing program was learning from my instructors, not just through lectures," she said. Ewer has been accepted into the Critical Care Nurse Residency Program in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at Marshfield Medical Center after graduation.
Ewer also credited her CNA instructor, Jody Gruetzmacher, for inspiring her career choice. "She had this incredible way of caring for people with confidence, compassion and grace," Ewer said.
The ceremony featured each graduate selecting a registered nurse—be it a family member, friend, or faculty member—to pin them during the event. Kelly Nelson, dean of the School of Nursing, highlighted collaboration as key to success in nursing. “When we care for a patient, there is a whole team that works toward one goal—improvement,” Nelson stated.
Nelson emphasized that teamwork would continue as graduates prepare for their NCLEX exams and enter the workforce. “Their collaboration doesn’t end at graduation—it expands to include colleagues across disciplines, patients, families and the broader healthcare community,” Nelson added.
Graduates recognized include Casey Bartels from Wisconsin Rapids and others from various locations such as Marshfield and Stevens Point.
Further details on Mid-State’s Nursing program are available at mstc.edu/nursing-pinning.
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