On Friday, May 8, family members, friends, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate the class of 2015 nursing graduates at Saint Joseph鈥檚 College鈥檚 annual Nursing Pinning Ceremony.
First held at Saint Joseph鈥檚 in 1978, Friday鈥檚 pinning ceremony recognized 78 nursing graduates: 66 from the College鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚 program, and 12 from the online master鈥檚 program.
Nursing pinning first began when medals were given to outstanding graduates of nursing education programs. Gradually, the ritual expanded to include the pinning of all graduates to indicate the successful completion of their nursing education.
鈥淭he pinning ceremony dates back to the 1860s,鈥� said Lynette Hamlin, the College鈥檚 associate dean of nursing. 鈥淔lorence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of Saint George in recognition of her tireless service to the injured during the war.
鈥淏y 1916, the practice of pinning graduates was standard throughout the United States.鈥�
The ceremony was opened by President Jim Dlugos, who reflected on the significance nurses have in our communities. 鈥淎s I look around,鈥� he said, 鈥淚 see nurses everywhere. I鈥檝e come to realize that nurses run the world. We know that the training in our nursing programs has prepared you to be wonderful caregivers and caretakers for the patients and their families that you will meet in the years to come. We have great confidence that your liberal arts education here at Saint Joseph鈥檚 College, in the Mercy tradition, has prepared you well to run the world.鈥�
Associate professor of nursing Ruth Smillie was recognized at the event as the honored speaker, a role that she was selected for by her students and peers.
In her address to the crowd and the graduates, Smillie delivered a heartfelt, humorous, and insightful speech. She relayed many tips for success in the nursing profession, where she stressed the need to live the lifestyle that the graduates, as nurses, will profess to their patients.
Smillie concluded her remarks with words of encouragement: 鈥淐ongratulations, Saint Joseph鈥檚 nursing class of 2015. Go be amazing.鈥�
At that time, Reverend John McHugh, OFM (Cap.), the College鈥檚 chaplain, blessed the pins. They were then presented to the graduates by assistant professor of nursing Denise Blais, as assistant professors John Tuskan and Sara Germann read the names of the graduates.
As part of the pinning tradition, each college or university鈥檚 pin is unique. The College鈥檚 pin was designed by its first nursing class, under the guidance of Sister Mary Consuela White. This round, crimson-edged pin has both words and symbols to represent the philosophy of the Department of Nursing and the College. The words 鈥淐are, Cure, and Console鈥� are written across the top of the pin, while 鈥淔ortitude and Hope鈥� enclose the circle at the bottom of the pin. At the center of the pin, there is a shield with a cross and a Nightingale lamp with a flame.
