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Second Class of GCU Accelerated Nursing Program Students Graduate

The Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU celebrated the graduation of 23 students who successfully completed the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (A.B.S.N.) program. Photos from the event can be viewed here.

“We are so proud of these new graduates, they have worked extremely hard to get here and their commitment and dedication to the program and to the field of nursing is admirable,” said Teri Wurmser, Ph.D., RN, Dean of the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU.

The is only the second graduating class from the program which was launched in 2020.  The accelerated nursing program is a 14-month intensive, hands-on experience that prepares students to complete their bachelor’s degree and achieve Registered Nurse licensure in a compressed time frame. 

The graduates participated in the traditional Pinning Ceremony that dates to the 1800s and represents the nursing education journey.  The pin, which symbolizes the new nursing credentials, is presented by a faculty member selected by the student who has supported or mentored them throughout this journey. The new graduates also repeated the Florence Nightingale Pledge and the Presentation of the Roses, handing out roses to the special people in their life who helped them achieve their goals.

The address to the graduates was given by Andrew Strucek, a resident of Brielle, who also received the Richard Hader Excellence in Nursing Award for achieving the highest GPA.  “Our professors have given us the tools to learn, but we now take those tools and start a new journey, for our education never ends,” said Strucek.

Below is the list of the A.B.S.N. class of 2023 graduates:

  • Brooke Van Deventer, Barnegat
  • Christian DiAntonio, Barnegat Light
  • Andrew W. Strucek, Brielle
  • Rebecca L. Lustgarten, Cream Ridge
  • Stephanie M. Healy, Egg Harbor City
  • Daniel P. Maloney, Fair Haven
  • Monica Kovbasyuk, Freehold
  • Danica Sharpley, Howell
  • Ashley C. Shaloo, Keyport
  • Chava Berkowitz, Lakewood
  • Devorah Mehl, Lakewood
  • Yisroel Y. Rotberg, Lakewood
  • Bracha Shurin, Lakewood
  • Jill S. Adoni, Marlboro
  • Kelly A. Gifford, Morganville
  • McKayla A. Conti, Ocean
  • Terri R. Wall, Rumson
  • Ngozichukwu V. Arisa, Toms River
  • Nashla J. Bedran, Toms River
  • Alexis La Belle, Toms River
  • Annet David, Union
  • Hannah Vorotinov, St. Louis Park, Minnesota
  • Zahava M. Zuroff, Cincinnati, Ohio

Approximately 85% of GCU nursing students are employed within a Hackensack Meridian Health facility within 3-6 months of completion of their degree. As a result, GCU nursing graduates serve families and patients throughout Ocean, Monmouth, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Middlesex Counties.

The Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU offers a variety of nursing education programs including the BSN, a 14-month Accelerated BSN, the New Seminary Accelerated Nursing program for Jewish women, and a Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing.

Aerial view of GCU.

About Georgian Court University

Georgian Court University is a leading regional university that provides a transformative education, preparing students for ethical leadership and service in the Catholic Mercy tradition. Founded in 1908 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Georgian Court University is Central and South Jersey’s only Catholic university. The university has a strong liberal arts core and a historic special concern for women.

As a forward-thinking university that supports diversity and academic excellence, GCU is known for expanding possibility for more than 1,900 students of all faiths and backgrounds in 35+ undergraduate majors and 10+ graduate programs. The GCU Lions compete in 16 NCAA Division II sports in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). In 2020, GCU was named a Best Value College by Money.com and a Best Bang for the Buck (Northeast) by Washington Monthly. High student retention and graduation rates make GCU a Top Performer on Social Mobility on U.S. News & World Reports rankings.

The main campus is in Lakewood, New Jersey, on the picturesque former George Jay Gould estate, a National Historic Landmark. Georgian Court, which is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, also serves students through its Center for Professional Studies, and at other locations, including GCU at Brookdale, and through multiple online degree and certificate programs.

Deposit Deadline Extended to June 1

Georgian Court University has extended the deposit deadline to June 1 in response to the U.S. Department of Education announcement concerning delayed data availability from the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, deposits are also refundable up to June 1. Click here for more information about the deposit extension.