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Bay State College School of Nursing Celebrated the Completion of the Nursing Program

October 21, 2020

The Bay State College School of Nursing and Health Sciences held a pinning ceremony with faculty in a socially distanced and live streamed event on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Thirty-seven students were awarded their nursing pin, a time-honored tradition that dates back to the 1860's, when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George in recognition of her tireless service to the injured during the Crimean War.

New nurses tradition choose a faculty member or a close friend or family member who has been important to them in their nursing education. The pinning ceremony symbolizes the graduate's transition into the profession after completing the education requirements.

As a result of the global pandemic, organizers were forced to think innovatively to create a meaningful event. The ceremony was live-streamed for family and friends to watch in the comfort of their homes. The students appreciated the opportunity to celebrate with their classmates and faculty members, and often paused to give their moms, dads, and children a "shout out" for their support during the rigorous two and a half year program.

In his opening remarks, Faculty member Russel Marketing, quoted A.A. Milne, author of Winnie the Pooh:

"You are Braver than you believe,
You are Stronger than you seem, and 
You are Smarter than you think."

Dean Cheryl McInerney said, "Any nurse you ask will tell you that the pinning ceremony is like a rite of passage, more important than the actual graduation ceremony. I wanted to make sure that COVID-19 didn't take that away from us."

Of the 37 graduate nurses, 17 were from the May 2020 cohort and 20 were from the August 2020 cohort. The presentation included remarks from Jeff Mason, Chief Academic Officer, Russel Marketing, Nursing Faculty, Jennifer Verstreken, RN to BSN program chair and faculty advisor to Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society, Cheryl McInerney, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Christine Campbell, nursing faculty and Susan Hughes, nursing faculty.

The following students were inducted into the Delta Upsilon chapter of Alpha Delta Nu:

Class of May 2020

  • James Adamson
  • Madison Bauman
  • Meredeth Davey
  • Olivia Derienzo
  • Shannon Donovan
  • Dulce Fontes
  • Micah Greene
  • Arianna Guertin
  • Emma Ierardi
  • Meghan LeRoux
  • Kyla Miller
  • Abby Nee
  • Ly Nguyen
  • Jenna Risacher
  • Shanel Roy
  • Melissa Zulon

Class of August 2020

  • Malcom Benavides
  • Julie Boyd
  • Oak Horton-Gregg
  • Christina Nadeau
  • Jacqueline Stuart
  • Taylor Wilkinson

The following students were awarded the Clinical Excellence Award, an award presented by faculty to a student who best exemplifies the humanistic aspects of nursing as they intersect with scientific knowledge and nursing practice. Clinical excellence is demonstrated through practice grounded in caring.

  • Madison Bauman, May 2020 Cohort
  • Kyle MacLaughlin, August 2020 Cohort

The following students were awarded the Academic Scholar Award, which is a learned person who is noted for wisdom, knowledge, and judgement. A scholar actively gathers information from multiple ways of knowing human senses, verbal and written expression, reflection, observation, experience, and reasoning. The scholar's thoughts are based in intellectual criteria that go beyond subject-matter. Scholars have probing thinking processes and want to expend their thinking. They actively demonstrate reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.

  • Micah Greene, May 2020 Cohort
  • Julie Boyd, August 2020 Cohort

The following students were awarded Dean's List, a recognition of students who have graduated with a grade point average of 3.7 of higher.

  • Micah Greene
  • Oak Horton-Gregg
  • Madison Bauman

The following students were awarded Dean's List Honorable Mention, a recognition of students who have graduated with a grade point average of between 3.5 and 3.69. 

  • Meghan LeRoux
  • Abby Nee
  • Kyle Miller
  • Emma Ierardi
  • Ly Nguyen
  • Julie Boyd

The following students received the Dean's Award for Perseverance, which is presented to a student who has experienced challenges and setbacks while completing the program and overcame them through perseverance and determination. The student is to be celebrated for their resolve, resourcefulness, and dedication.

  • Meghan LeRoux, May 2020 Cohort
  • Krystal Francisco, August 2020 Cohort

Congratulations to all the Bay State College Nursing Students who received their pins this weekend! We are so proud of their hard work, perseverance, and dedication and know they will go on to do amazing things.