The weekend of May 6 was a time to celebrate for more than 260 graduates, along with their families, friends, and MCCN faculty and staff.
The weekend celebration began with Pinning and Master’s Hoods Presentation Ceremony on Friday, May 6, at the Grove City Church of the Nazarene. The tradition of presenting pins to nursing graduates dates back to 1860, when Florence Nightingale wanted graduates of the first professional nursing program in London to stand out and be respected, so she designed a pin for graduates to wear on their uniforms. By 1916, awarding pins became a common practice for all nursing graduates in North America and the United Kingdom. Today, each nursing institution awards their own uniquely designed pin, which is awarded by faculty to new graduates, symbolizing entry into the field of nursing.
The Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 7, led by Faculty Marshal, Katheryn Fernandez, PhD, RN, honored 162 traditional undergraduate students, 49 Online RN-BSN students, 51 master’s students and two post-master’s certificate students. The Commencement speaker, Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, president & CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, spoke to the graduates, faculty, families and friends about the importance of lifelong learning and how it relates to improving healthcare in our country. Dr. Trautman also quoted the New York Yankees legend, Yogi Berra, who said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
In recognition of her contributions to nursing education, MCCN awarded Dr. Trautman an honorary doctorate, the Doctor of Laws (LLD), which is awarded to an individual who has expertise in government or public service, or for preeminence in any field.
Congratulations to all MCCN graduates as they embark on the next stage of their careers!
