Pinning Ceremony Honors Summer 2024 Nursing Graduates
By Margaret Calkins
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
The University of Rochester School of Nursing honored its graduates of the accelerated bachelor's and RN to BS programs at the Summer 2024 Pinning Ceremony on Aug. 29. The Ceremony celebrated 69 accelerated graduates and 15 RN-BS graduates.
More than 30 students who graduated from the accelerated program were also members of the first UR Nursing Scholars cohort, with a commitment to work at Strong Memorial or Highland hospitals upon graduation.
The Pinning Ceremony, a tradition over a century old, signifies graduates' transition from student to nurse and acknowledges their hard work and dedication to the profession. During the ceremony, graduates receive a pin that symbolizes their achievement, presented by someone who has supported them throughout their time at the School of Nursing.
Matthew Benjamin Drake '24N was chosen as the class speaker for accelerated graduates. With an initial degree in pastoral ministry and counseling, he later obtained a master's degree in public policy. While caring for his father-in-law in hospice, he realized that he found more fulfillment in addressing people's physical needs rather than spiritual ones.
During his speech, Drake emphasized the significance of upholding the ethos of nursing as the graduates transition into diverse roles within the healthcare system.
“My fellow graduates, you’re exceptional,” Drake said to his fellow graduates. “Thank you for this year. I’ll never forget. Let me close with some old words I believe represent the spirit of nursing, ‘Love is patient. Love is kind. It is not proud. It is not self-seeking. It keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.’”
School of Nursing Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, spoke about the significant role graduates are about to take on.
“As nurses, you are entering a profession where learning never stops," Kitko said. "We have prepared you to continue shaping the healthcare landscape through innovative thinking and a commitment to excellence. The lessons you have learned here will serve as the foundation for your continued growth.”
Learn more about the School of Nursing’s accelerated bachelor’s and RN-to-BS programs.
Categories: Accelerated Programs, Alumni, Community