Posted to WKBN May 3, 2025 by Hanna Erdmann
The final nursing class from Sharon Regional has graduated.
Saturday afternoon, they walked across the stage at Sharpsville High School. The class of 2025 stamped its legacy in the 126 years of the school’s long history, but this class had to make some sacrifices to cross that stage.
“I think they can accomplish anything at this point,” said program director Crystal Brest.
The final class to graduate from Sharon Regional’s School of Nursing had a turbulent final few months. At one point, they didn’t even know if they’d be able to finish the program after Sharon Regional closed its doors earlier this year.
“There was a long period where things were very uncertain. We thought we were going to have to lose all of our students,” Brest said.
In neighboring Crawford County, Meadville Medical Center was able to take on the nursing school.
“There were a few challenges along the way but from the very first time we heard there was an opportunity to continue the tradition of Sharon Regional Medical Center, we wanted to step in and transition the school to Meadville, and you see today was a great result,” said Meadville Medical Center CEO Philip Pandolph.
For the new grads, it meant a much further drive and a whole new facility.
“They’ve just really done phenomenal, and I don’t think anything’s going to throw them on the floor when they’re working with patients because they’ve just, they’ve been through it and they proved that they can just put their head down and keep going,” Brest said.
Meadville Medical is looking forward to continuing this program in Crawford County.
“It’s important for us to keep nurses in the region serving not just our hospital in Meadville but the entire region and serving the communities that they came from,” Pandolph said.
There were 32 graduates in the class of 2025. Also celebrated were the alumni in attendance who were part of Sharon Regional’s School of Nursing Legacy.
