Kussman, who retired from Elon this year, asked the graduates whether they were ready to change the world, whether their families were ready for them to enter the nursing profession, whether the faculty were prepared to continue supporting and encouraging them, and whether the administration was ready to send them into the world. Each question was met with a resounding “yes.”

“Your career can grow with you. Shift with you. Support you. Again and again,” Kussman said. “And the answer is yes.”

Thirty-eight Bachelor of Science in Nursing students were honored during a May 21 pinning ceremony in McCrary Theater attended by faculty, staff, family members and friends. The tradition of the nursing pin dates back to the Middle Ages. However, modern nursing symbolism is often associated with Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, whose nurses were identified by the Maltese cross displayed on their uniforms.

“The world you are graduating into is complicated. Healthcare is changing. Systems are stressed and overwhelmed. And real trust is rare,” Kussman told graduates. “And that’s why you matter so much. Because when a patient is scared, they don’t ask for a flow chart, they don’t ask for a piece of paper — they ask for a nurse.”

In 2021, Elon launched both a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and a 16-month accelerated program for students who had already completed a bachelor’s degree. The Class of 2026 marks the second cohort to graduate from the university’s four-year BSN program.

Taylor Girard ’26, who introduced Kussman during the ceremony, described her as a professor who “creates a learning environment where students feel supported, challenged and genuinely seen.” Kussman also reminded graduates of the “four Cs of nursing” emphasized throughout their time at Elon: competence, caring, communication and cultural awareness.

“Your patients may not remember the medications, they may not remember the procedures, but they will remember that kindness,” Kussman said. “And when they rang that bell, somebody showed up who knew what to do.”

Student speaker Maiah Giampietro ’26 reflected on the close bonds formed within the cohort and the importance of becoming “flexible, creative people,” a phrase students heard often throughout the program. That adaptability, she said, helped carry them through both the challenges and successes of nursing school.

“No shift goes exactly how you plan it. No patient is exactly like a textbook example. Rarely does anything work out exactly how you plan it,” Giampietro said. “But we are now equipped with the skills, the knowledge and the confidence to put plan B into action — whatever that may look like. This is what makes us ready.”

Following the presentation of pins, led by Kussman and Jeanmarie Koonts, assistant professor of nursing, graduates and registered nurses in attendance recited the Nursing Professional Oath, led by Elizabeth Tonaj ’26. Giampietro reflected on the significance of the pledge in her remarks.

“It represents the kind of nurses we have spent the last four years learning about,” she said. “The nurses who advocate. The nurses who listen. And the nurses who care even on the hardest of days. We are those nurses.”

As the ceremony concluded, Cathy Quay, chair of the Department of Nursing, reminded graduates of both the responsibility and impact of their profession.

“Our healthcare system needs you, our communities need you, our world needs you,” Quay said. “Because nursing, perhaps more than any other profession, holds the power to change lives.”

Department Awards

Academic Achievement Award: Allison Schult ’26
This award is presented to the students with the highest overall GPA and has a commitment to academic excellence.

Trailblazer Award: Victoria Whetstone ’26
This award is presented to a senior nursing student who exemplifies integrity, accuracy and innovative leadership. Nominated and voted on by students and faculty, the recipient shows outstanding leadership, listens and guides others, is dedicated to driving change, raising awareness of social justice issues, and fostering an equitable campus community.

Heart of the Cohort: Eamonn Gallagher ’26
This award is presented to a senior nursing student who inspires their peers and demonstrates a commitment to encouraging and supporting fellow students. Nominated and voted on by students, the recipient is known for their positive attitude, ability to motivate others, and perseverance throughout the program.

Phoenix Award: Allison Schult ’26
The Phoenix Award is given to a senior nursing student who excels in supporting peers and the Elon Department of Nursing throughout their program. Nominated and voted by students and faculty, the recipient demonstrates outstanding academic achievements, excellent character and interactions, active involvement in university organizations and significant community services, all while promoting the nursing profession and enhancing student life.

2026 Bachelor of Science in Nursing Graduates

Gia Agrawal
Gabrielle Carlson
Grace Dias
Leah Freeman
Jillian Freglette
Eamonn Gallagher
Maiah Giampietro
Taylor Girard
Skye Greene
Julianna Hood
Eva Korn
Meredith Korwan
Haley Kyle
Kalia Lilly
Amelia Loughlin
Kali Mahoney
Louisa Manthe
Jake Marion
Caroline McCormic
Emily McNamee
Olivia Minchello
Sara Morrison
Lauren Murray
Lauren Noble
Katherine O’Neill
Jenna Petrarca
Eva Rashkovsky
Katherine Richer
Julia Ricker
Lathan Rubant
Emily Sabad
Allison Schult
Alexandra Simon
Elizabeth Tonaj
Paris Van Dyke
Victoria Whetstone
Dylin Wilson
Alaina Witter

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When she initially applied to Elon, Allie Schult ’26 was planning to join Elon’s accelerated physician assistant program.

“I got waitlisted for it,” Schult explained. “And when I was on the waitlist, my mom was like, ‘Wait, what about the nursing program?’ I was like, ‘No, you have to apply. I can’t just ask,’ but she told me to just do it.”

Schult always knew she wanted to work in the healthcare sphere, so she emailed the Department of Nursing explaining that she had interviewed for the physician assistant studies program, but was now interested in becoming a nursing major. After verification of her test scores, she was switched into the program, and the rest was history.

“And so, then I had to tell my mom, ‘Oh, you were right. I did just have to ask!’ But I’m really glad I did, and I’ve loved every second of it.”

On campus, Schult has held various positions related to her journey in the health sciences, starting as an anatomy lab �þ��� assistant and later becoming a human physiology tutor. Additionally, Schult works once a week with fellow nursing student Lathan Rubant ’26 to answer any questions for younger nursing majors through PAL (Peer Assisted Learning) sessions.

“We say, ‘Bring any muddy points that you’re confused about,’ and they come in. We help them talk through things and clear up points that might not have been completely clear in class,” said Schult. “I feel like that’s probably the biggest thing I do in relation to nursing.”

Schult also shadowed Lori Hubbard, assistant professor of nursing, who works as a lactation consultant on the labor and delivery floor of Cone Health Alamance Regional Hospital. This inspired her to explore the pediatric route of nursing.

“I used to work in a daycare, I like working with kids,” Schult explained. “But then this past summer, I went out on a limb and applied to an externship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, so I got to work in an adult hematology oncology unit, which is adults with blood disorders and cancer.”

This introduced her to a different side of medicine, which she combined to find her post-graduate position at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, working in pediatric hematology oncology.

“I never thought about doing oncology at all, but then after my summer, I realized these are the best people, and there are good victories,” Schult explained.

In commending her accomplishments in the nursing program, Hubbard noted the social media series Schult conducts to motivate fellow nursing students.

“Allie embodies the heart and future of nursing. She will bring immense knowledge as well as seasoned talents in peer mentorship and collaboration to the profession,” said Hubbard. “Her social media series that she films to encourage and inform other nursing students about study habits and test-taking skills for successfully navigating nursing school is the perfect representation of her character and compassion.”

As she prepares to graduate from Elon on May 22, Schult credits the closeness of her nursing cohort, class sizes and professors in shaping her experience.

“There are such small class sizes, and with 39 of us in the nursing cohort, we’ve been together since freshman year. We did our Elon 1010 together, so we’ve been together since the beginning. I think it’s just nice that you get to spend so much time together, and they really get to know you, and the professors do too,” Schult explained.

Assistant Professor of Nursing Jeanmarie Koonts served as Schult’s advisor in the nursing program.

“She has really seen me through it all, all of my dilemmas with things,” Schult explained. “I went to her when I was debating what kind of nurse I wanted to be and what I wanted to do for my senior practicum, and she just sat down with me and let me talk through all of my thoughts.”

“Allie exemplifies what it means to be both an outstanding scholar and an impactful, servant leader. Her academic excellence is matched by her dedication as a peer tutor and PALS leader, consistently uplifting others with patience, insight, and a collaborative spirit,” said Koonts. “This dedication is evident not only in her work but also in the genuine care and concern she brings to her patients, friends, and colleagues.”

In discussing the program, Schult attributed the size of Elon to creating a more individualized experience.

“I think all the professors have been instrumental in their own ways. I think that’s the great thing about being here, is that they all know you,” said Schult. “You’re not just a number, you’re a person.”

Ahead of �þ���’s 136th Commencement on May 22, 2026, Today at Elon is highlighting several graduating seniors who have made the most of their Elon experience.

Hutchinson began research shortly after arriving on campus and is working alongside Assistant Professor of Biology Efrain Rivera-Serrano to study how certain viruses interact with the immune system.

“As a nursing major, I have always wanted to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” he said. “My interest in cancer research became more personal after my grandmother was diagnosed with leukemia. Although leukemia was not the direct model used in my current project, that personal experience motivated me to pursue cancer-focused research more broadly.”

The article emphasizes that Hutchinson’s work is part of a broader effort to develop innovative cancer therapies that complement traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. By understanding how viruses trigger immune responses, researchers hope to create more targeted and effective approaches to fighting the disease.

Hutchinson presented his research at Elon’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum on April 28.

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For Ryder Hutchinson ’28, impactful research was not something to be completed towards the end of his college experience. The nursing student began research on how to fight various cancers with different viruses after only his first semester at Elon.

“We use a type of virus that does a really good job at not killing your healthy cells but does a really good job at killing cancer cells,” Hutchinson said. “They use this technique at clinical trials right now for common cancers such as breast and colon cancer in combination with chemotherapy drugs. But my big question was: what about the other cancers?”

Hutchinson began this research with Efrain Rivera-Serrano, assistant professor of biology. While taking his cell biology course, Hutchinson began shadowing Rivera-Serrano weekly in the lab as he worked with other students on research projects. Hutchinson was then accepted by Rivera-Serrano as a research student, in addition to his acceptance into Elon’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, where he stayed on campus over the summer of 2025 with a grant to continue research on the project.

Given his grandmother’s diagnosis of leukemia, Hutchinson was initially interested in exploring this specific type of cancer. However, given the difficulty in testing certain types of cancers, the pair compromised and used existing research and expanded upon it with Hutchinson’s desire to help cancer patients.

“It was a different way of using what he knows, with what I know, and making a really cool research project out of it,” Hutchinson said.

When describing the various types of viral strings, Hutchinson compared them to “personalities,” for the layman viewer of his project to understand.

“This one virus can have many different strings, or as I like to say, many different personalities,” Hutchinson said. “And they’re using a specific string or specific personality in clinical trials, but there’s so many more out there. So, I did testing on 35 different strings and found that within the rare cancers I tested on, the one I found is different than the one in clinical trials, and it shows to be better at killing than the one’s they’re currently using.”

During SURF Day on April 28, all other campus activities are suspended so the Elon community can come together around students’ creative endeavors and research efforts. Undergraduate research is also one of the five Elon Experiences, which provides a natural extension of the work students do in the classroom and ensures that Elon graduates are prepared for both graduate school and careers.

After he presents at SURF, Hutchinson plans on conducting more specific research to the field of nursing with chemotherapy patients at Cone Health hospital that align more closely with his goal of a profession in nursing.

In addition to his research project, he is in the process of receiving feedback for two professional articles: one of which he is publishing himself, and another in which he is the co-author.

“I have always wanted to have a purpose,” Hutchinson said. “I wanted to make an impact, and I feel like I’m slowly doing that, or headed in the right direction of making a difference or impact on people’s lives.”

The convention brought together more than 2,000 nursing students, educators and healthcare leaders from across the country for four days of leadership development, professional networking and policy engagement. Centered on the theme “Ignite, Innovate, Lead,” the event provided students with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills while contributing to national conversations shaping the future of nursing.

Elon was represented by senior nursing students Victoria (Tori) Whetstone, founding SNA president; Lathan Rubant; and Katherine O’Neill, along with junior executive board members Taylor Rae Spurgeon, Katie Pescatore, and Sarah Vinges. The group was accompanied by faculty advisor Professor Jeanmarie Koonts and faculty member Elizabeth Van Horn.

A highlight of the conference was Elon students’ active participation in the House of Delegates, the governing body of the NSNA. Whetstone and Rubant served as official delegates, while O’Neill participated as an alternate delegate. Together, they contributed to national discussions on policy and professional issues affecting nursing students and the broader healthcare system.

The Elon delegation authored and presented a resolution titled “Addressing Bias by Changing ‘Refusal’ Language in Clinical Documentation.” The resolution calls attention to how language used in healthcare documentation can unintentionally introduce bias and impact patient care. Rubant served as the lead author, with Whetstone and O’Neill contributing as co-authors. The students formally presented and advocated for the resolution before peers from across the nation.

In addition to presenting their own resolution, Elon delegates participated in voting on multiple proposed resolutions, parliamentary matters, and the election of the 2026–27 NSNA national executive board.

For Whetstone, the experience marked a meaningful milestone in her leadership journey and in the growth of Elon’s SNA chapter.

“It has been such an incredible honor to serve as the founding president of the Student Nurses Association, and I could not be more proud of how far we have come,” Whetstone said. “What started as a vision has grown into a thriving, passionate community of student nurses dedicated to leadership, advocacy, and service.”

Since its founding, Elon’s SNA has rapidly expanded its impact, growing to more than 70 members in its first year and engaging in a wide range of initiatives. These include professional development programming, mental health awareness efforts, community-building events, and fundraising to support organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the National Black Nurses Association.

Participation in the NSNA Convention reflects Elon nursing students’ commitment to leadership beyond the classroom—engaging in policy, advocacy, and professional development at a national level while preparing to enter the nursing workforce.

As the organization continues to grow, its student leaders remain focused on advancing patient-centered care, fostering professional excellence and development, and shaping the future of nursing through advocacy and innovation.

Their presentation, “Using Simulation to Bridge Faith and Health in a Non-Traditional Setting,” highlighted a unique, interdisciplinary approach to simulation design that integrates healthcare, ethics and religious studies. Developed as part of Koonts’ Bridging Faith and Health work, in collaboration with interdisciplinary partners Elon faculty members Brian Pennington and Helen Orr, and supported by Interfaith America, the project addresses a growing need to prepare future nurses to navigate complex patient situations where religious beliefs, patient autonomy and evidence-based practice intersect.

The session showcased a multi-module educational initiative and an accompanying simulation experience designed to foster interprofessional collaboration, communication, and clinical judgment in ethically challenging scenarios. By engaging learners in realistic, non-traditional simulation environments, the project aims to strengthen students’ ability to deliver patient-centered care while respecting diverse values and beliefs.

Conference participants responded enthusiastically to the presentation, particularly its emphasis on:

• Addressing moral distress in clinical practice
• Enhancing interprofessional education (IPE)
• Expanding simulation beyond traditional clinical settings
• Promoting culturally and spiritually sensitive care

This work is part of a broader, Interfaith America grant-funded initiative that will continue over the next two years, with plans to expand the simulation model and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in faith-health integration and simulation-based education.

The conference brought together educators and simulation specialists from across the state to explore emerging trends such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and innovative �þ��� strategies. Elon’s contribution reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to excellence in nursing education, leadership in simulation and preparation of practice-ready graduates.

�þ��� football player and nursing student Jake Marion ’26 was recently for donating bone marrow through the National Marrow Donor Program (formerly Be The Match)

The national nonprofit agency works to spread awareness of the need for bone marrow donation and to increase the number of participants in the��bone marrow��registry. While��Elon Football has worked��with the organization for several years, Club Nursing��joined��in 2024��for an annual awareness and registry event.

Marion joined the registry through Elon Football in 2022. He was almost matched in previous years, but blood testing revealed it was not a high enough match necessary for donation. That all changed this year when he got a call in January to begin the donation process, which was completed this spring.

“He’s a part of me now, and I’m a part of him,” Marion said of the recipient. “My cells are inside his body and hopefully they’re doing their job, and they’re helping him, so it’s hard. I’m just praying he’s going to get better, and I’m rooting for him.”

Marion was matched earlier this year as an exact genetic donor after previously joining the donor registry. He described his decision to donate as deeply personal, noting that the experience of caring for his sick grandmother helped inspire his nursing path. After completing the three-hour stem cell collection process, Marion emphasized the significance of giving someone a real chance to fight cancer — even if the donation procedure is taxing on the body.

“Those stem cells are basically binding to the bone marrow, and it’s giving him a shot to recover, because this is the first time in his life where his body has been strong enough to fight the cancer,” he said. ��“From there, what they can do is actually attack with chemotherapy. It might be a tiny bit taxing to your body, but it’s well worth it for the person that’s struggling with their life.”

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Club Nursing faculty advisor Jeanmarie Koonts offered thoughtful commentary in the article on the role of compassion in healthcare education. She highlighted that while clinical skills and techniques are essential, the ability to empathize and truly care for others is equally vital to the nursing profession.

“For many years running, nursing has been voted the most trusted profession,” Koonts said, adding that empathy cannot always be taught but is a defining trait of exceptional caregivers.

Marion joined the registry through Elon Football in 2022. He was almost matched in previous years, but blood testing revealed it was not a high enough match necessary for donation. That all changed this year when he got a call in January to begin the donation process,��making him��Elon’s first bone marrow donation since the collaboration between the football program and Club Nursing.

 (formerly Be The Match)��is��a national nonprofit agency whose mission is to spread awareness of the need for bone marrow donation and to increase the number of participants in the��bone marrow��registry. While with the organization for several years, Club Nursing��joined��in 2024 for an annual awareness and registry event.����

“I remember at Lakeside, it was cool because there was the football team, me in the middle, and then a lot of people from Club Nursing,” Marion said. “So, it was cool to see both of those groups merge.”����

To begin the donation process, Marion had his blood tested to make sure he��is��a 100% match, filled out a long questionnaire, got a metabolic panel, and an in-depth physical examination.��

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Club Nursing faculty advisor, Jeanmarie Koonts commends Marion for his ability to delegate his coursework while being there for someone in need.����

“I am in awe and it makes me feel so humbled. Jake is putting��the��compassion,��commitment��and caring of nursing into action. He is truly giving himself to make someone’s life better,” Koonts said. “And Jake is a busy man. He is a senior with an intense workload, who is also a varsity athlete. Yet, he has put someone else’s need��above all of��this.”��

In preparation for the retrieval process, Marion will begin receiving injections, called filgrastim, a week prior.����

“It’s basically a medication they give to cancer patients, but for donors, it’s specifically to increase your stem cell count,” Marion said. “And then on the day I get the donation,��it’s��usually a six-hour process. They put an IV in each arm at the elbow bend, and you just sit there.��It’ll��take your blood, and then it goes into a machine, grabs all the stem cells, and returns the blood back into the other IV. After that, you just��kind of avoid��strenuous activities for a week.”����

To complete the donation, Marion will miss three days of classes and make up the work afterwards in recovery. Despite it all, his main concern is the ability to make a difference.����

“Cancer is a huge problem, and I think the ability to even have the chance to help someone live longer or cure their specific type of cancer is really just an awesome feeling,” Marion said.��“It’s��something that��not many��people experience, and��I’m��very grateful��for it.��I’m��just glad��that I can help someone.”����

The next football and Club Nursing registry event will be held on March 30, 2026. For more information, contact��.����

The tour was designed to expose students to clinical practices beyond the mainland United States and to highlight both the strengths and challenges of healthcare systems serving diverse populations. �þ��� observed patient care areas, learned about hospital operations, and engaged in discussions with local healthcare professionals about pediatric nursing in Puerto Rico.

Adding to the significance of the visit was an unexpected coincidence: the Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González-Colón, was also touring the hospital that same day. The governor held a press conference on site to address a recently announced increase in pay for nurses across the island, drawing attention to one of the most pressing issues facing Puerto Rico’s healthcare system today.

Like many regions across the United States, Puerto Rico is experiencing an acute shortage of nurses. Years of workforce migration, demanding working conditions and comparatively lower wages have contributed to staffing challenges that impact patient care and hospital capacity. The governor’s announcement of increased nurse compensation was widely welcomed by healthcare professionals and administrators, who see it as a critical step toward retaining talent and strengthening the island’s healthcare infrastructure.

For Elon nursing students, witnessing the Governor’s visit firsthand brought classroom discussions about workforce shortages, healthcare policy, and professional advocacy into sharp focus.

“It was powerful for students to see how policy decisions directly affect nurses and patient care,” said Kuussman. “This experience connected theory, practice and policy in a very real way.”

Koonts echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the value of experiential learning.

“Our students were able to observe not only clinical environments, but also the broader systems that shape healthcare delivery. That kind of exposure is invaluable as they prepare for their future careers.”

�þ��� noted that seeing nurses at the center of a public policy discussion reinforced the importance of advocacy and leadership within the profession. Others reflected on the global nature of nursing challenges, recognizing that workforce shortages and compensation concerns extend far beyond any single location.

The visit to the pediatric hospital underscored the critical role nurses play in healthcare systems and highlighted the importance of continued investment in the profession. For Elon’s nursing students, the experience served as both a learning opportunity and a reminder of the impact nurses can have—not only at the bedside, but also in shaping the future of healthcare.