Shacola Stinson
For Shacola Stinson, graduating from Victoria College’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program represented far more than earning a degree. It marked the culmination of years of perseverance, sacrifice and determination.
A first-generation college graduate and mother of two, Stinson first attended Victoria College to complete the Vocational Nursing (VN) Program before returning to advance her education through the college’s ADN Program.
While earning her ADN, she balanced the demands of work, raising a family and rigorous coursework. After countless late nights studying and staying committed to her goals, she crossed the commencement stage in May, celebrating a milestone years in the making.
Stinson said her inspiration to enter the nursing profession came from a deeply personal experience.
“When my grandpa was first diagnosed with brain cancer, the nurses were incredible to him,” she said. “I knew then that I wanted to become a nurse. I want to make that same difference that they made in our lives and be that for someone else.”
Today, Stinson is continuing that mission at Citizens Medical Center, where she provides compassionate care to patients in the community she calls home.
VC’s nursing programs provide students with opportunities to begin and advance their careers in healthcare, offering pathways from vocational nursing to registered nursing. The ADN Program was recently ranked the No. 1 nursing school in Texas by RegisteredNursing.org, a recognition that reflects the program’s 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) over the past two years.
Learn more about Victoria College’s nursing programs at VictoriaCollege.edu/HealthCareers.