Mount Saint Mary College nursing graduate Bianca Cogoni ’25 is seen here with Fr. Greg Fluet, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, right after earning the Father Michael J. Gilleece Memorial Award for high moral character and service.
The path to a nursing degree is a rigorous one at Mount Saint Mary College, but for Bianca Cogoni ’25, the challenge wasn’t just in the classroom: It was in a sudden, traumatic moment at home that tested her resolve and her faith.
While juggling the demands of the Mount’s nursing program, Cogoni faced a traumatic experience when her mother was severely injured by a dog. Cogoni had to physically intervene to pull the dog off her mother, resulting in injuries to herself as well.
“I just put my faith in God and was resilient, and I got through it,” Cogoni recalled.
It came as a relief when her professors encouraged her to prioritize family and rest during the aftermath of the crisis. With Mount mentors like Carol Wanyo, assistant professor of Nursing, Cogoni didn't just survive her senior year, she thrived: The industrious student earned a spot on the Fall 2024 Dean’s List and received the Father Michael J. Gilleece Memorial Award for high moral character and service.
“Carol Wanyo really bends over backwards for her students, and she goes out of her way to make sure that we understand what's going on,” explained Cogoni. “She just wants everyone to succeed.”
A cornerstone of Cogoni’s resilience was her spiritual journey at the Mount. Her time with Fr. Greg Fluet, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, inspired her to delve deeper into her Catholic faith, receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on campus. Fr. Fluet became a “rock” for Cogoni and her fellow nursing students, even taking her phone call the night before her NCLEX exam to provide a sense of calm.
Today, Cogoni is applying her Mount nursing skills at the Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg, N.Y., managing care for individuals with autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. She credits professors like Catherine Kingsley, instructor of Nursing, for bridging the gap between lecture and clinical practice, fueling a passion for advocacy.
“I work with people who can’t advocate for themselves, and that's just the best part of the job,” says Cogoni. “Nursing school is all about resilience. One small little moment can seem like so much, but you’ll get through it.”