Mid-State Technical College recognized the achievements of its 45 Nursing program completers in a pinning ceremony December 16 on the Wisconsin Rapids Campus. Graduates were joined by their family and friends at the celebration. 

The nursing pinning ceremony is a celebratory endcap to a nursing student’s academic journey and a bridge between nursing school and a nursing career. It honors and celebrates nursing students and their path to becoming a nurse. It is also a day of celebration for the nursing faculty who have helped the students reach their goals. 

For this year’s graduates, the pinning ceremony carried added significance, as they completed a Nursing program recently named the top RN program in Wisconsin for 2026 by RegisteredNursing.org. The top ranking recognizes the program’s strong student outcomes, innovative hybrid learning model and 100 percent NCLEX pass rate in 2024. 

“The Nursing program has challenged me and helped me learn more than I thought was possible in just two years. I have grown not only into a nurse, but also into a person who is more resilient and confident,” said Sofia Billman, Plover, who will be working as a Registered Nurse at the Aspirus Wausau Birthing Center after graduation. “I learned how to think critically, stay organized and prioritize what matters most in a fast-paced environment. Supportive family, friends, classmates and faculty encouraged me, pushed me and helped me meet every challenge along the way.”

For Mid-State’s pinning ceremony, each graduating student selects a registered nurse who is a family member, friend or faculty member to join them on stage to place the nursing pin on the graduate during the ceremony, welcoming them into the profession of nursing. 

“The Mid-State Technical College nursing pinning ceremony is a celebration that signifies the completion of the nursing program, honors the graduates' hard work and officially welcomes them into the nursing profession,” said Kelly Nelson, dean of the School of Nursing. “It's a traditional event marking the transition from student life to a professional career.”

“Helping people has always felt natural to me. I’ve also always loved science and problem-solving, so nursing felt like the perfect place to bring all my strengths together,” Billman added. “Mid-State’s strong reputation and high student success rate made me feel confident that this was the right program for me.” 

Following are Mid-State’s fall 2025 Nursing graduates recognized in the December 16 nursing pinning ceremony. 

Liam Bailey – Plover
Maria Barnes – Adams
Bergen Beversdorf – Stevens Point
Sofia Billman – Plover
Evangeline Brown – Marshfield
Jammie Burt – Adams
Terri Combs – Wisconsin Rapids
Sydney Cooper – Hancock
Hannah Cran – Frederic
Maisie Cumberland – Port Edwards
Brianna Faivre – Nekoosa
Tiara Gannon – Wisconsin Rapids
Chelsea Graham – Amherst
Karen Gray – Wisconsin Rapids
Tanya Grundeen – Wisconsin Rapids
Ashley Hansel – Stevens Point
Lilly Hasenohrl – Auburndale
Jess Hooper – Amherst
Katie Houser – Wisconsin Rapids
Lydia Hughes – Wisconsin Rapids
Kara Jackson – Loyal
Audrey Jones – Friendship
Lizzie Jones – Scandinavia
Mckayla Keuffer – Marshfield
Rodney Keyzer – Wisconsin Rapids
Lisa Kiesner – New London
Emma Kramer – Batavia
Joy Lambrecht – Hatley
Jessica Lease – Port Edwards
Avery Liddicoat – Middleton
Kass Marquardt – Prairie Du Sac
Autumn McGlynn – Mount Morris
Patience Pecher – Vesper
Michael Pietsch – Marshfield
Brittany Radavich – New Lisbon
Bryn Ruffalo – Wisconsin Rapids
Jessie-Rose Scholze – Tomah
Alexis Severt – Marshfield
Ryanne Strausbaugh – Muskego
Sabrina Tellez – Marshfield
Connor Tracy – Wisconsin Rapids
Shelby Tryba – Plover
Amor Tuttle – North Saint Paul
Hannah Westlund – Marshfield
Brynn Yedinak – Waupun

Learn more about nursing pinning and Mid-State’s Nursing program at mstc.edu/nursing-pinning.