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A graduate dons her hood during the UAMS College of Nursing’s hooding and pinning ceremony.
Image by Bryan Clifton
Hooding and Pinning Ceremony Honors 170 Graduates in UAMS College of Nursing
| Friends and family members packed the sanctuary of the First Pentecostal Church in North Little Rock on May 17 as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing welcomed 170 graduates to the nursing profession.
The College of Nursing’s hooding and pinning ceremony, held each year on commencement weekend, recognizes the graduates’ achievements and acknowledges those who helped foster their success. Patricia Cowan, Ph.D., RN, dean of the College of Nursing, said many students had a village of loved ones and mentors who offered support and encouragement.
“We’re very proud of you and are excited to celebrate your accomplishments,” she told the graduates.
Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, chancellor of UAMS and CEO of UAMS Health, said in a video message that the emblems given to the graduates represent years of hard work and perseverance in their academic training.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate receives her pin, which symbolizes her transition from student to colleague.Image by Bryan Clifton
“On behalf of UAMS, I congratulate each of you on the successes that helped lead you to this ceremony,” he said.
The pinning segment of the ceremony honored students graduating with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. The pins, part of a tradition that originated in the 1960s, symbolize the graduates’ transition from students to colleagues.
Rachel French, a BSN graduate, delivered an address on behalf of the undergraduate students. French said she and her classmates had scaled a mountain in 686 steps, referring to the number of days since they set foot on the UAMS campus for their first day of classes.
“With willpower and dedication, we have reached the last step,” she told them. “We climbed that mountain for ourselves and for each other, and I stand here to say that we’ve won.”
Tyler Dawson, a fellow BSN graduate, spoke about a recent heart issue that left him on the receiving end of emergency care. He praised the paramedics, doctors and nurses who provided support when he needed it the most.
“It was through this experience, here at the end of my journey through nursing school, that I truly gained insight into what it means to be a nurse,” he said.
Dawson said the importance of nurses extends beyond medical care. The profession requires empathy, resilience and a willingness to step into the lives of others during their most vulnerable moments. Nurses build deep connections with patients and their families, sharing in their joys and sorrows.
Teresa Whited (left), associate dean for academic programs in the College of Nursing, offers congratulations to a graduate during the hooding and pinning ceremony.Image by Bryan Clifton
“My hope for each graduate is that you never forget the profound impact you have,” he said. “May you always recognize the significance of your every action, word and gesture, knowing that in the lives of those you care for, you are a source of light in what might seem to be a sea of darkness.”
In the hooding portion of the ceremony, the College of Nursing recognized graduates of the Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. The use of hoods in academia can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe, when the first universities began accepting students for the purpose of higher learning.
LaDana Morrison, a DNP graduate, thanked the friends, family members, professors and mentors who supported the students on their academic journey. Noting the many challenges that she and her classmates had to overcome, she said those obstacles have prepared them for their future.
“We have proved that we are strong, that we are not quitters, and that we can handle anything that comes our way,” she said.
The ceremony also featured a presentation of awards for students in the College of Nursing. Those were:
Undergraduate awards
Faculty Gold Key, presented to the BSN graduate who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership in professional and community activities, excellence in nursing practice, and personal and professional growth: Lina Dharmesh Patel
Virginia R. Jarratt Award, presented to the BSN graduate who demonstrates scholastic achievement, excellence in the art and science of nursing, awareness of the heritage of nursing and current forces affecting the delivery of health care, and performance that reveals appreciation of nursing as a caring profession: Kathryn Elizabeth Coleman
Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement and Contribution, presented to the BSN graduate who demonstrates exceptional leadership efforts that enhance student/faculty relationships and who encourages other students to participate in their professional organization: Chelsea Marie Lee
Ina Swetnam Award, presented to the graduate who has achieved scholastic excellence and who demonstrates excellence in the care of maternity patients: Elizabeth Marie Nowak
Gloria Rauch Award, which honors the pursuit of excellence in nursing care of children and is presented to the BSN graduate who demonstrates scholastic achievement and excellence in practice with infants, children and their families: Madison Kennedy Cobb
Daisy in Training Award, presented to the BSN senior who went above and beyond to deliver compassionate care: Chelle Olene Byron
Nightingale Award, presented to the leader who demonstrates a desire to contribute to the nursing profession and has participated in civic and community activities at the state and national level: Kathryn Elizabeth Coleman
Nurses’ Nurse Award, for the nurse(s) that you would most like to care for you if you were ill, and whose loyalty lies with the patient first: Taylor Breanne Stecks
Nursing Excellence Award, presented to the graduate who demonstrates outstanding class and clinical preparation, confidence and competence in nursing; who communicates well; who is creative in delivery of care; who looks further than the textbook for answers; and who assists other students when needed: Lina Dharmesh Patel
Most Supportive Student Award, presented to the graduate who supports other students through triumphs and trials, facilitates group morale, shares time and talents, and gives sincere positive encouragement: Kathryn Elizabeth Coleman
Graduate awards
Outstanding Future Nurse Leader Award, presented in recognition of exceptional potential for outstanding future contributions to the profession as a nurse leader: Neil Donovan Langer
Kathryn P. “Bucky” Thomas Award, presented to the graduate student who demonstrates kindness and compassion, gives positive encouragement to others, and shows respect for and loyalty to the College of Nursing: Britney Beumeler
Veronica McNeirney Award, presented in recognition of clinical excellence in the care of seriously ill adults: Christina Lynn Miller
Willa Belle Adams Award, which recognizes a graduate who exemplifies clinical nursing skills: Amanda Graves Hale
Ph.D. student award
Dr. Eric Ashworth Hodges’ Award for Best Dissertation: Tammy Webb