
Otero College to award 31 Licensed Practical Certificates this summer
by Rachelle Martin
The Otero College Nursing program will award 31 Licensed Practical Certificates to nursing students this summer. These students will be honored for their accomplishments during the licensed practical nurse pinning ceremony at 10am on July 18th, 2025, in the Ed Stafford Theatre on the Otero College campus. A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony in the lobby with refreshments provided.
The Associate of Applied Science nursing degree program is designed with a Practical Nursing exit option. After successfully completing their first year of classes at Otero College, students are eligible to attend an extra semester during the summer to obtain their Practical Nursing Certificate. Graduates will be entitled to apply and take the state licensing exam to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) after completing the course. Otero College has been offering the LPN classes since 2004. Students are then eligible to obtain their Registered Nurse degree (RN) after taking two additional semesters during their second year of
the program.
The 2025 LPN graduate class includes: Taylor Armijo, Riley Bochatey, Gavin Burns, Timothy Cardenas, Marcey Carlson, Julianna Chavez, Yzabella Chavez, Brittany Collins, Cassandra Dillon, Amy Duran, Mariah Flakes, Madeline Gallagher, Rachelle Gallegos, Angela Hernandez, Daniela Jepkosgei, Timothy Johnson, Melea Lobato, Liliana Maes, Brianna Matheny, Makenna Mosher, Marisa Ortega, Roberta Pacheco, Shyin Pollard, Allison Rice, Stacia Sinclaire, Leandra Snover, Makayla Taullie, Angelina Vigil, Khristin Vigil, Miranda Williams, Malia Ybarra.