There is a major nursing shortage in the United States. Warren Community College is doing its part to help offset that trend.

The College’s nursing program, ranked among the best in the country, “pinned” 17 graduates in a special ceremony on May 19.

“We are very proud of the 2023 nurse education graduates,” said Patricia Stypolkowski MSN-Ed, RN, CNE, Executive Director Nurse Education at Warren. “They have demonstrated perseverance, self-advocacy, and support of each other throughout our program. Many of these graduates have been employed as healthcare workers throughout the program and many have been promised RN positions in acute care settings upon passing of the RN licensing exam.”

This year’s full list of graduating nurses include:

Ashrakt Alsharkawy, Leslie Acurin, Kristina L. Braman, Amra Cerim, Saira Colmenares-Suarez, Mariam Fadli, Morgan Graham, Carlie Jandoli, Annalise Kimble, Mason Kurre, Daniela Marin, Debra A. McCarthy, Afaf Morchid, Diane Naugle, Norma A. Suarez, Elizabeth V. Lird-Schulz, and Ivanna Seredyuk.

Mason Kurre was the Student Speaker.

“The graduates have verbalized how supportive their friends and families have been, which is very important to their success,” said Stypolkowski.

Awards voted on by their peers:

Professional Nursing Award for demonstrating clinical excellence: Leslie Acurin; Nurse Education Service Award for demonstrating quality and quantity of contributions to the program, college, community, and peers: Saira Colmenares-Suarez, and NJ League for Nursing Award for demonstrating involvement in student and community activities: Mariam Fadli.

Awards determined by nursing instructors:

Academic Achievement Award for achieving the highest-grade point average: Elizabeth Vanessa Lird-Schulz and Faculty Award for demonstrating improved performance, professional attitude and interpretation of nursing practice: Norma Suarez.

The guest Speaker at the ceremony was Dr. Kristiana Thomlinson RN, a 2014 WCCC graduate of the nurse ed program and adjunct instructor, and the keynote speaker was Debra Schrek MSN-Ed, RN Teaching Administrator for nurse education.

Dr. Thomlinson noted that “Passion is the underpinning of Nursing. Nursing can be a beacon of light to those in need.”


Professor Schrek added, “I am sure that family and friends gathered here will agree that the graduate nurses on this stage have worked very hard to achieve their goal.”


Stypolkowski also offered “A big thank you to the Warren County Board of Commissioners, Warren Community College Board of Trustees, Administrators, Teaching Administrators, Full Time Faculty, Adjuncts and Staff for all they do to support the nurse education program.”

For further information about the nursing program at WCC, visit warren.edu.