15 new Licensed Practical Nurses set to enter workforce
North Central Michigan College (NCMC) is celebrating the graduation and pinning of its Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Class of 2025. The December 11 ceremony honored 15 graduates, the college’s second cohort since launching its Practical Nursing program.
See photos from the 2025 LPN Pinning Ceremony
Surrounded by family, friends, and members of the North Central community, the graduates received nursing pins and stoles in a symbolic rite of passage into the healthcare profession. The event included remarks from Brent LaFaive, dean of nursing, health sciences, and public safety programs, and a keynote address from resilience coaches Hollye Jacobs and Bob Vance.
“Today’s graduates remind us that resilience is not just about enduring challenges, but about growing stronger, wiser, and more compassionate through them,” Jacobs and Vance said. “It has been our deepest honor as coaches to walk alongside these students as they rose — together, with heart, skill, and resilience — ready to care for their patients and communities.”
The ceremony also featured the lighting of candles and a recitation of the nursing pledge, reaffirming the graduates’ commitment to ethical and compassionate patient care.
“We are very proud of our graduates’ accomplishments and look forward to seeing the impact they will have on our community,” LaFaive said. “With this cohort of LPN graduates, we are reinforcing our commitment to meeting the region’s healthcare needs with skilled, compassionate professionals at every level of nursing.”
The college’s Practical Nursing program is already making a meaningful impact on Northern Michigan’s healthcare landscape, said Nicole LaHaie, manager of patient care services at McLaren Northern Michigan.
“This nursing program strengthens our entire community, preparing not only skilled LPNs but compassionate caregivers,” LaHaie said. “The support these graduates bring to our hospital and to every person we serve is unmatched. I’m excited to see them enter healthcare as licensed professionals and grow into the incredible nurses they are meant to be.”
Shannan Butler, director of nursing at Grandvue Medical Care Facility in East Jordan, noted the growing demand for nurses at all levels of practice driven by the region’s aging population.
“Our rural communities depend on nurses like you — compassionate professionals who bring skill, heart, and dedication to every patient you serve,” Butler told the graduates. “As new LPNs, you are stepping into a vital role, especially as we care for a growing number of older adults who wish to remain in the communities they love. Your work will make a lasting difference in the lives of your neighbors and in the health of our region.”
Joe and Jody Haggerty returned to college after nearly 40 years of marriage to pursue careers in nursing. With help from Michigan Reconnect, which covered their tuition, they were able to take the next step in their education. Jody, a longtime CNA at Bay Bluffs Emmet County Medical Care Facility, and Joe, a high school wrestling coach and manufacturing employee, received their pins and are now looking ahead to new opportunities.
“Becoming LPNs will give us tools to make a positive impact,” Joe said.
Launched in January 2024, North Central’s Practical Nursing program addresses the growing need for skilled nurses across Northern Michigan. The program provides rigorous academic and clinical training to prepare graduates for rewarding careers in a variety of healthcare settings.
The LPN program is part of North Central’s comprehensive approach to healthcare education, which also includes the Fast Track Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, and a partnership with Davenport University that provides a seamless pathway to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Together, these programs support students at every stage of their nursing career while meeting the region’s increasing demand for qualified healthcare professionals.