FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2, 2025
Mountain Gateway Community College Celebrates Practical Nursing Graduates at Pinning Ceremony
Clifton Forge, Va. - Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) recently celebrated the graduation of its Practical Nursing program students with a heartfelt Pinning Ceremony on Friday, December 20th, at 10:00 a.m. in the Moomaw Center at MGCC’s Clifton Forge campus. This event marked a significant milestone for the graduates, officially welcoming them into the nursing profession.
The pinning ceremony, a time-honored tradition in nursing, symbolizes the completion of the Practical Nursing program and the graduates' formal entry into the healthcare field. The graduates honored at the ceremony included Thomas Bayly, Casey Brewster, Kirstan Conner, Renee’ Feamster, Robert Howard, Hayley Pugh, and Taylor Ratliff.
The event provided an opportunity for the graduates, their families, and faculty to come together to celebrate the students' hard work, dedication, and compassion throughout their educational journey.
The ceremony began with a welcome address by Dr. Ben Worth, Vice President of Academic Affairs, followed by a virtual greeting from Dr. John Rainone, MGCC President, who was unable to attend in person. Summer Byer served as the keynote speaker and delivered an inspiring speech, offering words of encouragement and support to the graduates. In a deeply moving moment, Byer spoke personally about each graduate, sharing a unique word that represented their journey, drawing tears from the audience and empowering the students.
Devon Nicely then presented the Significance of the Pin, and the graduates' families and friends gathered to witness the pinning ceremony. Nicole McCain led the Lighting of the Lamp, followed by the graduates taking the Nightingale Pledge. The ceremony concluded with Carla Dobbs offering the Blessing of the Hands to each graduate.
“By sitting here today, you’ve learned that using words like ‘I can’t’ and ‘When will I find the time?’ aren’t words that helped you make it,” Byer said.
“We were thrilled to celebrate this important milestone with our Practical Nursing graduates,” said Cathy Hiler, DPN, RN, and Nursing Program Head at MGCC. “The pinning ceremony is a momentous occasion that honors not only their academic achievements but also the beginning of their careers as compassionate healthcare professionals. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished.”
For more information about the ceremony or MGCC’s Practical Nursing program, please contact Cathy Hiler at chiler@mgcc.edu or visit www.mgcc.edu.
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