The third graduating cohort of nursing students participated in a modified Pinning Ceremony last Friday at the Cauble School of Nursing and Health Sciences campus in Jasper to close out this chapter in their journeys in becoming Registered Nurses.
“This is not the ending of your nursing journey, it’s the ending of your nursing student journey, but it is the very beginning of your nursing profession journey. Our pinning today symbolizes that transition from student nurse into the real thing,” said Dr. LeAnne Wilhite, dean of the Cauble School, as she addressed the nursing graduates.
Wilhite commented on the challenges nursing students faced amid the pandemic this year, while noting the perseverance of faculty and students.
“You have not had it easy. This pandemic has been difficult on everybody, but I think especially on those who are learning the field of nursing and trying to gather that knowledge to go out and take care of all of those very sick people,” said Wilhite. “You have hung in and you have had faculty who have just poured into you and invested in you – you’ve been very blessed by that; I’ve been very blessed by that.”
Dr. Mark Roberts, interim president, reminded the cohort of the impact their careers will make on their communities.
“By educating nurses like you, we are sending people out into our community to make it better, to enrich those communities and to make it healthy. You will be an instrumental part of that. I believe what we do is educate at a very high level of excellence that is promoted from our faculty to our students through that partnership,” said Roberts.
Following the address Misty Wright, assistant professor of nursing, honored Shannon Champion with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students. The award recognizes and celebrates nursing students for their above-and-beyond care and compassion towards patients and families.
Wilhite was recognized with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Faculty, a national recognition voted on by Reinhardt nursing students.
Reinhardt’s nursing graduates then received their pin from Dr. Linda Morgan, associate professor of nursing, a lamp and a Bible. As each graduate was pinned, assistant professor of nursing, Dr. Kimberlin Zelinsky read a personal note each had written to thank those in their lives who supported them throughout their journey in nursing school.
The ceremony concluded with the student nurses reciting the International Council of Nurses Pledge, promising virtually in front of their loved ones and nursing faculty to uphold the highest standards in all areas of their nursing careers.
Congratulations to the nursing Class of 2020!
Ashley Brooks
Nicole Crawley
Madison Miller
Mariama Diallo
Nicole Townsend
Shannon Champion
Madison Reeg
