In a milestone event addressing the regional health care gap, the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions at Thomas Edison State University (TESU) celebrated the graduation of its Winter 2026 Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) cohort.
The pinning ceremony, held April 23 at the New Jersey State Museum, formally welcomed 36 new graduates into the profession following their completion of a rigorous 15-month curriculum.
As the health care industry continues to grapple with staffing deficits, TESU’s program remains a critical pipeline for new talent. This cohort was bolstered by the BAYADA Scholars track, a strategic initiative designed to expand access to nursing education and provide direct solutions to the nursing shortage in New Jersey and the surrounding region.
“Programs like TESU’s Accelerated BSN continue to grow because they meet a critical need — preparing skilled, compassionate nurses at a pace that matches the realities of today’s healthcare system,” Linda Wicker, Health Professions Program Coordinator, said.
Highlighting the ceremony was the presentation of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students, which honors those who provide exceptional care to patients and families. This year’s recipients were:
- Michelle Fotis (Standard Track)
- Nairoby Sanderson (BAYADA Scholars Track)
Both awardees, along with eight of their peers, were inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society (Upsilon Rho Chapter), recognizing their academic excellence and leadership potential.
2026 Honor Society Inductees:
| Madora Brown | Jessica Jane Kosinski |
| Marilin Lopez | Rachel A. McCusker |
| Emeka O. Mgbemena | Chaya Moskowitz |
| Irene C. Okpukpara | Amber N. Zoppel |
The graduates’ journey involved a hybrid model of on-site lectures and online coursework, anchored by clinical rotations at premier regional facilities. Partner institutions included Cooper University Health Care, Capital Health, Penn Medicine Princeton Health, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, among others.
These graduates are now eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). With TESU’s reputation for consistently high pass rates and three admission cycles per year, the university remains a leader in fast-tracking high-quality clinicians into the workforce.
