Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) held its nursing pinning ceremony the night before Commencement in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Marcia Miller, Ph.D., RN, dean of the Division of Nursing and Sciences, addressed nursing graduates, families and friends. Since the pinning occurred during National Nurses Week, Miller adopted the theme of “Nurses Make the Difference” and spoke to the nurses of the Class of 2024 about how they will continue to make a difference in the world.
Awards were also presented during the ceremony. Theresa Watson, associate director of academic services for student success and lecturer of mathematics, was presented with the Friends of Nursing Award. Additionally, Andrew Delnat, MSN, RN, lecturer of nursing, was presented with the Outstanding Nursing Instructor award. Carmen Ingram was presented with the Outstanding Senior Scholarly Project.
Crystal White, DNP, FNP-C, RN, the FNP program director, individually blessed each graduate’s hands before the pinning portion of the program.
For the pinning, the 17 pin recipients were called by name, and each had chosen family members and friends to accompany them and place their pin on them. The pin adorns a lamp, symbolizing the lit lamp used by Florence Nightingale while caring for injured soldiers during the Crimean War. It reiterates the meaning of nursing with care and hope. The nursing pin and the ceremonial pinning tradition originated in the late 1800s.
Pin recipients included:
Macie Dunham
Kaylei Eubank
Shelby Feuquay
Isabelle Garcia
Teryn Garzolini
Polet Horsley Horton
Carmen Ingram
Emily Kerr
Madalynn Kerr
Savannah McCoy
Brittany Peacock Wilson
Kelli Phelps
Baylee Pitts
Madison Randolph
Madison Thacker
Mariah Thompson
Alyssa Winterstein
