The W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions at Thomas Edison State University (TESU) marked a major milestone on Aug. 20, celebrating 46 prelicensure nursing students from its Spring 2026 cohort.
Held at the New Jersey State Museum, the traditional pinning ceremony honored the graduates for successfully completing the rigorous, 15-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program, officially welcoming them into the health care workforce.
Preparing practice-ready nurses
Designed for speed and high-level competency, TESU’s accelerated model combines online coursework, on-site lectures, and practical clinical rotations to prepare students for complex medical environments.
- Day-one readiness: Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Nursing Programs, Dr. Dawn Alerassool, emphasized that the curriculum is intentionally sequenced to foster clinical judgment, professional confidence, and hands-on capability.
- Expanding pathways: Through valuable collaborations—including the BAYADA Scholars Track—the program continues to build strong pathways that connect aspiring clinicians directly with experienced mentors and local communities.
- Next steps: Graduates are now fully eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) before stepping into their professional careers.
Honors and recognition
The ceremony also highlighted exceptional student and faculty achievements through prestigious industry awards and academic inductions:
- DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nursing Students: Awarded to Jonathan Jouvert-Leonardo (standard track) and Giovanni Stanfa (BAYADA Scholars Track) for outstanding compassion in patient and family care.
- DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty: Presented to Atiya Porter, MSN, RN (BAYADA Scholars Track) and Erin Torp, MSN, RN (standard track).
- Honor Society Inductions: Twelve high-achieving students were formally inducted into the university’s Upsilon Rho Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society.
Students completed clinical training across a robust network of regional healthcare partners, including Cooper University Health Care, BAYADA Home Health Care, Capital Health, RWJBarnabas Health facilities, and Trenton Emergency Medical Services.
