BRTC RN Program Graduates Mother-Daughter Duo

Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) Registered Nursing (RN) pinning ceremony was a family affair for a mother-daughter duo. Michelle Knight, mother, and Kandra Knight, daughter, graduated together as members of the RN Fall 2024 class. Kandra said they had it all planned out from the beginning.

Kandra said she remembered her mother talking about wanting to be a nurse, but circumstances kept her from getting to follow through with her dreams. Kandra thought about the idea of being a nurse during her early years of high school, but in her junior year of high school she became certain that nursing was the path she wanted to follow. After discussing her choice with her mother, Michelle told her that she would apply for classes with her.

Both Kandra and Michelle applied to BRTC and completed their registration in the spring of 2022. The duo fast-tracked their pre-requisites online in 2023, then applied to the RN program. After sending in their applications they took the entrance exam and were both accepted into the program. Kandra said the whole experience has been awesome and humbling.

“Of course, being mom and daughter, there were days where we did butt heads,” Kandra said, “but there were more times where we shared tears, laughs, and a whole lot of love.”

She said they called each other every day, even on days they did not have classes or did not see each other. During their preceptorship they were placed in the same clinic, but Michelle worked mornings and Kandra worked nights. Kandra said it was cool to see her mom leaving as she was clocking in. She also said she and Michelle do plan on trying to work together after graduating.

“She is truly my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the best mentor I could have been blessed to go through this with,” Kandra said.

For more information about BRTC’s nursing programs visit https://blackrivertech.edu/college-coursework/academic-units/allied-health/nursing/.