Heart. Skill. Purpose.
June 2025 – In two heartfelt ceremonies held this month in Moses Lake and Wenatchee, the next generation of nurses took their place in a long tradition of compassionate care and professional excellence. Among those honored were 14 SkillSource participants: career seekers who took the leap into nursing school and crossed the finish line with skill, purpose, and community behind them.
At Big Bend Community College’s Nurse Pinning Ceremony on Friday, June 13, half of the graduating class were SkillSource participants. That included Whitnee Powell, Julia Stephens, Charlene Meats, Gabriela Pacheco, Kayla Anderson, Kaylee Scheel, Dariya Karnafel, Christian Gonzalez, and Victor Ramos.
Victor, whose personal note was featured in the graduation program, included a thank you:
“I would like to thank FAFSA, SkillSource, and the BBCC Foundation for their financial assistance, which made my journey through nursing school much easier.”
One week later, on June 20, a combined class of 60 nurses from Wenatchee Valley College’s Wenatchee and Omak campuses celebrated their pinning at a ceremony held at Wenatchee High School. Five SkillSource-supported graduates were among them: Robert Bamberger, Callie Lawrence, Alina Mendoza, Kasey Anderson-Kuligowski, and Adriana Ruiz Teran.
Originally from Venezuela, Adriana faced a language barrier that prevented her from meeting program requirements in her first quarter in fall 2022. Rather than give up, Adriana focused on improving her English while working as a CNA, supported by ongoing SkillSource career services. When she was readmitted to the WVC nursing program in fall 2023, SkillSource helped fund her return with an Individual Training Account (ITA), Economic Security for All (EcSA) incentives, and a Matched Savings Account through the Community Reinvestment Project. She is scheduled to begin her role as a registered nurse at Confluence Health later this summer.
This year, 14 of the 77 total nursing graduates from Big Bend and Wenatchee Valley College were SkillSource participants, evidence of the role SkillSource plays in preparing a local healthcare workforce that is both compassionate and future-ready.
Each pinning ceremony included traditions like the presentation of a nursing lanyard by a loved one and a candle-lighting to represent the enduring light of care. For many, it marked the culmination of hours and hours of determination, clinical training, and hard-won growth.
SkillSource has supported hundreds of aspiring nurses on their path. With help navigating training options, financial aid, and individualized support, participants have turned their goals into meaningful, sustainable careers.
Healthcare is one of the most in-demand industries in North Central Washington. With trusted college partners like Big Bend and Wenatchee Valley College, SkillSource is helping shape a local healthcare workforce rooted in compassion, resilience, and long-term opportunity.
Congratulations to all of this year’s nursing graduates. May your compassion and light continue to shine bright!
