Caitlin Walsh of Wantaugh, N.Y., a Nursing major, was the last in the procession at the Mount’s Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 17.
At the very end of a long line of Mount Saint Mary College graduates on Saturday, May 17 was Nursing major Caitlin Walsh of Wantaugh, N.Y.
About 450 degree recipients were honored at the 62nd Annual Commencement, held over the course of two ceremonies. But Walsh didn’t mind being the last one in line. Unsurprisingly for a regular on the Mount’s Dean’s List, she was more focused on passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
Walsh is in good shape, judging by the latest figures: The Mount’s NCLEX pass rate was 93.33 percent for first-time test takers in 2024, which is well above both the state and national rates.
As for what her future holds, Walsh would like to work in mental health nursing, the intensive care unit (ICU), or the operating room (OR).
One of Walsh’s best memories of the Mount was her clinical work at West Point Military Academy, where she and her classmates administered flu shots to the cadets.
“That was the most impactful moment for me,” Walsh explained.
The day before, Friday, May 16, the college honored nearly 120 graduates of its prestigious Nursing program at a pinning ceremony. As per tradition, the pins were presented to the graduates by chosen family members and friends. Thanks to alphabetical order, Walsh was again at the end of the line. But that didn’t dampen her happiness as she received her pin from her father, Robert, and her mother, Michele.
“Thank you for your boundless love, endless sacrifices, and unwavering belief in me,” she wrote in the 2025 Nursing Pinning program. “Every step I take is because of you. Your warmth is my refuge, your wisdom is my guide. I couldn’t have done this without you. I am forever grateful for your love, which fills my heart and inspires my soul.”
Walsh noted that there were two professors who really helped to mold her into the graduate she is today: Carol Wanyo, assistant professor of Nursing; and Lynette DeBellis, associate professor of Nursing, chair of the School of Nursing, and Mount alumna.
“They’re both really great,” she said. “They helped me so much.”