Since a traditional pinning celebration was not possible due to COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions, recent at Tuscarawas Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program graduates received their nursing pins and special recognition through an innovative drive thru procession that wound through campus on Thursday, May 7.
The pinning ceremony is a time-honored nursing school tradition signifying the nursing student’s official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of nurses.
“We could not have a traditional ceremony, so a nursing pinning drive thru was held to present the nursing graduates with their nursing pin,” said Joan Lappin, director of the ADN program. “It was the nursing program’s way to honor our 61 nursing graduates for their dedication, hard work and perseverance through the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve their goal of becoming a nurse.”
The administration, faculty and staff of the nursing program were able to celebrate this special occasion with the 2020 nursing graduates by posting signs of congratulations, words of encouragement and goodbyes—all from the appropriate physical distance.
“We are so proud of the nursing graduates and welcome them into the profession of nursing,” said Lappin.
To learn more about the ADN program at Kent State Tuscarawas, visit www.kent.edu/tusc/nursing.