Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College celebrated the Associate Degree Nursing Program Graduating Class of Fall 2023 during a Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. The intimate ceremony featured speeches from FDLTCC Nursing student, James Friedman, and Karen Lilyquist, a member of the FDLTCC Nursing Faculty. Tami Matuszak, Interim Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences provided the opening address; FDLTCC President, Anita Hanson, offered a President’s Welcome. The graduates were pinned by family and friends during the ceremony. This was the first fall pinning ceremony at FDLTCC since the Nursing program started rolling admission during spring 2022.

The mission of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Nursing Program is to provide the education necessary for entry into nursing. This program prepares the graduate to provide culturally competent care. The program aims to educate nurses to be culturally sensitive, focusing on the health needs of the American Indian population and the rural community. Upon completion of this program the graduate will be eligible to sit for the licensure exam.

The Associate Degree Nursing program at FDLTCC is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and holds accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

The Associate Degree Nursing Program Graduating Class of Fall 2023 includes:

Barnum, MN
Abigail Nadine Mickle*, Carlton High School

Cloquet, MN
James William Friedman, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School
David Houle**, Prior Lake High School
Micheala Beth Schwartz, Cloquet Senior High School

Duluth, MN
Liam Joseph Bohlmann, East High School
Gina Lurine Campaigne
Casandra Jean Darnall*, ROCORI High School
Adam Dean Young**, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School

Mahtowa, MN
Jana Rose Hergert**, Barnum High School

** High Honors
* Honors

For more information on the Pinning Ceremony or the Nursing program at FDLTCC, please contact Cassandra Nicholson at cnicholson*AT*fdltcc.edu.

Testimonials

My favorite thing about FDLTCC is the people. I’ve met fantastic students, faculty and staff who go above and beyond what I expected.

I chose FDLTCC because of its size and the curriculum. When I first came here in 2019, I was just looking for what I needed to volunteer, perhaps in a crisis shelter. I met with Don Jarvinen, and the rest is history.

It is awesome here at the FDLTCC Education Program because it is like a family here, if you need help or are struggling with anything, you have quite a few people who will help you out.