Nursing Students Honored for Work at COVID-19 Sampling Center

Tompkins Cortland Community College nursing students Dominic Barrett and Sara McKee have been honored by Cayuga Health System for their volunteer work at the COVID-19 Sampling Center. Martin Stallone, President and CEO of Cayuga Health paid tribute to the two students at a small ceremony after the center closed Friday afternoon.

Barrett and McKee, both residents of Ithaca, are in their final semester in the nursing program at Tompkins Cortland. Each had been doing clinical hours at Cayuga Medical Center (a member of Cayuga Health System) prior to the arrival of COVID-19 in our community. When Cayuga Health decided to open an off-site sampling center, Barrett and McKee both volunteered to help. The two spent part of the College’s extended spring break working at the new sampling center, which is located in a vacant store space at The Shops at Ithaca Mall.

College President Orinthia Montague attended the ceremony, along with nursing faculty members Lisa Seyfried and Kim Ligas, who joined Stallone in presenting the students with nursing pins and certificates.

Associate Professor Lisa Seyfried, Cayuga Health President and CEO Martin Stallone, College President Orithinia Montague (front), Dominic Barrett, Sara McKee, Assistant Professor Kim Ligas