On Thursday, August 2nd, Southern Regional Technical College held a pinning ceremony where 14 Associate of Science in Nursing students from the ASN program were honored by receiving their nursing pins. The ceremony commemorates the students’ successful completion of their nursing coursework and clinical rotations. This class of nursing students will officially be Registered Nurses pending the passage of their board exams.

In this pinning ceremony, which symbolizes the rite of passage into the nursing profession, each student received a pin and lights a small lamp. The pin is used to remind students of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed. The lighting portion of the ceremony serves as a tribute to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern-day nursing. In the 1800s Nightingale was known as the "lady with the lamp," tending to the sick while carrying a lamp to light the way. At the ceremony, students also recite the Nightingale pledge stating their dedication to upholding the standards of being a nurse.

“It is my honor once again to pin an ASN class.  Pinning is always a special day for our nursing graduates as it represents their first commitment to the profession. The high standards this group holds for their profession was demonstrated as they recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge during the ceremony. Our students will tell you this is an intense program and the rewards outweigh the sacrifice, especially as it relates to job preparation. These graduates further iterate SRTC’s mission of providing skilled workers to meet the demand of an ever growing workforce and continue to fill a statewide void with qualified personnel,” commented Tammy Bryant, MSN, RN, SRTC ASN Program Director.

This pinning had student representatives from the generic Associate of Science in Nursing program. The students that received pins were: Ashley Adams, Brittany Anderson, Lauren Cox, Liberty Daughtry, Kevin Folson-Trexler, Courtney Garrett, Dustin Lanier, Katorie Martin, Ardreana McCray, Jessica Murphy, Caitlin Propst, Shannika Reddick, Katie Waites, and Jeremy Walker.

Several students were presented with special recognition at the ceremony. Kevin Folsom-Trexler was presented with the Clinical Excellence Award; Brittany Anderson was awarded the Colquitt Regional Medical Center Leadership Award; the Nightingale Award was presented to Dustin Lanier; and the Highest Exit Exam Award was presented to Jeremy Walker.