Health Assisting students earn their Certified Nursing Assistant pins

photo of student Anastacia Sampson waving at a podium
Student Anastacia Sampson waves excitedly to her classmates

In a ceremony marked with laughter and nostalgia for special moments from the past eventful four years, 20 students in the Health Assisting program at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton were awarded their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pins at the school on May 24, 2019 in front of an appreciative audience of family members and Blue Hills staff.

“To earn a CNA in high school opens the door for so many other opportunities in college and careers,” said Principal Jill Rossetti. “These students have the grit to do anything they put their minds to and I can’t wait to see what they do next!”

Peggy Stewart, R.N., who teaches in the program, addressed the students, telling them, “On a scale of one to ten, we think you’re an eleven.”

She went on to thank their families, some of whom were in the audience, for their encouragement and support every step of the way, saying, “You’ve raised some really special people.”

Student Anastacia Sampson performed a reading.

Student Robert O’Connell delivered a heartfelt speech, telling his classmates as he looked out over the audience, “I see the very best of Blue Hills. There’s no limit for any of you.”

To the Health Assisting teachers, he said, “You have become my second parents. I will miss you all more than you know.”

The students who were honored were Hailey Botte-Verissimo, Holbrook; Sabrina Branco, Norwood; Shannon Briscoe, Dedham; Ariana Casanova, Norwood; Veronica Clancy, Braintree; Isabel Davila-Lynch, Avon; Samantha Donahue, Canton;  Cole Dube, Randolph; Sarah Forsyth, Braintree; Mike Jean-Louis, Randolph; Heather Nogler, Randolph; Robert O’Connell, Dedham; Angela Okoye, Randolph; Anastacia Sampson, Canton; Taylor Smith, Randolph; Victoria Stearns, Braintree; Candace Thompson, Randolph; Monica Wilson, Norwood; Christopher Wynands, Holbrook; and Neissa Zamor, Avon.        

The Health Assisting instructors are Mr. David Tapper, RN, Mrs. Peggy Stewart, RN, Mrs. Brenda Neret, RN, and Mrs. Kathy Dowd, RN.