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BENTON HARBOR, MICH. – Cameron Schinck of Coloma has earned �黨�ǿ�mv's highest student honor for nursing graduates, the Spirit of Nursing Award, recognizing him as the Fall 2025 graduate who best exemplifies the program's philosophy of excellence, integrity, and compassionate care.

With his sights set on a nursing career, Schinck transferred to �黨�ǿ�mv in Spring 2023 after a semester at Adrian College.

“Health care and the human body fascinate me. Our bodies work in such amazing ways, so I wanted to learn about it and use that knowledge to help others. The reward I feel after making a positive impact on somebody’s life is one of the most important things to me,” Schinck stated.

Schinck was nominated for the Spirit of Nursing Award by classmates and chosen by the faculty from among the nominees. A fellow nursing student stated, “Cameron takes his education and the safety of patients seriously. He holds himself to high standards and will make an extraordinary nurse.”

LMC Nursing Program Director and Faculty Denise Gardner echoed the sentiment of Schinck’s classmates.

“Cameron has been ‘all in’ since his first day of the nursing program, and he continues to thrive in both the classroom and clinical settings. He will be an excellent registered nurse and a true asset to this community,” stated Gardner.

Schinck credits support from his mom, dad, brother, girlfriend, and the rest of his family and friends for keeping him motivated during his education. He credits his mom, who is also a nurse, for being an inspiration during the process.

“My mom was in nursing school at LMC when I was five or six, so I saw all the work she put into getting her education. When I doubted myself while I was going through classes and clinicals, she understood how I felt and encouraged me to keep going and just continue to do the best I could,” Schinck added.

Immediately after graduation this month, Schinck will work at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals’ orthopedic and neurological unit in St. Joseph. He plans to concurrently pursue his master’s degree in nursing with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.

Schinck points to how the LMC nursing program is run with the highest level of dignity and professionalism for giving him a solid foundation to begin his health care career.

“I absolutely feel ready to start my nursing career. The LMC nursing faculty did an excellent job preparing me for this. The program is tough, but fair. It’s one of the best nursing educations that you’ll get in the state of Michigan,” Schinck stated.

About the �黨�ǿ�mv Spirit of Nursing Award

LMC first awarded the Spirit of Nursing Award in 1991. Its recipients are nominated by their classmates and chosen by the LMC Nursing faculty. Criteria upon which the award is based include:

• Demonstration of a caring attitude towards patients and peers
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with others in the academic and healthcare setting
• Attitude of inclusivity, civility, and exhibits respect for diversity
• Acts with integrity and a strong sense of ethics
• Commitment to excellence
• Identified as a leader and role model

About the �黨�ǿ�mv Nursing Program

�黨�ǿ�mv’s Associate Degree in Nursing program is ranked among the top five in Michigan for 2025 by NursingProgress.org. The ranking is based on graduation and retention rates, student-to-faculty ratio, first-time licensure exam pass rate, affordability, and overall reputation.

Demand is strong for LMC nursing program graduates. The last four cohorts achieved 100 percent job placement within six months of graduation. Recent licensure exam results also demonstrate instructional quality, with LMC’s first-time pass rate of the NCLEX-RN licensure exam consistently exceeding statewide and national averages.

LMC’s nursing instructors bring extensive expertise to the classroom with an average of 15 years of teaching experience and 20 years of nursing practice. Students gain practical skills through training in the College's high-fidelity SIM lab and by completing hands-on clinical rotations in a variety of healthcare settings throughout the region.

For more information about LMC’s nursing program, visit lakemichigancollege.edu/nursing.