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Northeast State Nursing welcomed more than 30 upcoming program graduates to receive their nursing pins at the annual pinning ceremony held May 3 at the Ballad Health Performing Arts Center Theater on the Blountville campus.

 

The College’s Director of Nursing, Johanna Neubrander, along with members of the department’s faculty and staff, recognized this newest class of nursing students. Family and friends packed the theater to cheer on students.

 

“The nurse pinning ceremony is more than another graduation event, it is a rite of passage,” Northeast State President Dr. Jeff McCord told the audience to lead off the ceremony. “You are doing more than getting a degree, you are answering a calling.”

 

Northeast Nursing spring graduates who received nursing pins Friday night are: Adrianne Adams; Emily Adams; Emily Akers; Haley Bledsoe; Katie Bowman; Leah Calhoun; Sierra Church; Olivia Clark; Breanna Clawson; Chelsea Dickerson; Hannah Dunn; Heather Dutton; Taylor Eades; Raven Fitch; Ava Flatten; Aubrianne Grindstaff; Lesley Hollifield; Kaitlynne Holtzclaw;  Destiny Kindle; Kenedy King; Erica Lambert; Brenda Lindsey; Makayla Maslin; Whitley Maupin; Heather Mullins; Daniel Ramirez; Aubrey Shearer; Jessica Shearin; Rachel Simmons; Kaitlyn Smith; Lacy Spanier; Jason Street; Marlena Tino; Hannah Trent; Alexandria Vinanti; and Tristan Whitehead.

 

Students selected members of the nursing faculty to attach the nursing pin on their stage walk. Neubrander said these upcoming graduates marked a milestone for the Northeast State Nursing program.

 

“With this class’s upcoming graduation, we will exceed 850 students to graduate from our nursing program,” said Neubrander. “This is an incredible number of students we have sent forth into our communities to care for people.”

 

Northeast State pinned its first class of nursing program graduates in May 2009. The program awards the associate of applied science degree in nursing.

 

The pinning ceremony provides a symbolic welcoming of new nurses into the profession. Each graduating student received the Northeast Nursing pin on his or her white lab coat signifying completion of the associate of applied science degree.

 

Makayla Maslin won the Outstanding Student Award for academic performance and student support. The Adult Learner of the Year Award was presented to Alexandria Vinanti. Chelsea Dickerson received the Adult Learner of the Year Award for the L.P.N.-to-R.N. nursing pathway.

 

Lacy Spanier received the Program Support Award and the Student Nurses Association Award. The program support award recognizes students who extend themselves to support fellow students and the program. Student representative honors went to Lesley Hollifield, Alex Vinanti, and Tristan Whitehead.

 

Pinning, or honor, ceremonies are traditionally held for nursing classes at colleges and universities across the country. The pinning ceremony symbolizes the culmination of a student’s professional nursing education. The nursing school pin distinguishes the graduates from all other health care professionals and paraprofessionals.

 

The nursing students graduating this spring can participate in the College’s spring commencement ceremony on May 7 at the Blountville campus.