Triton College Honors Nine Student Nurses at Pinning Ceremony
Triton College honored nine nursing students during a December 11 Pinning Ceremony.
RIVER GROVE, Ill. – Friends and family joined Triton College in celebrating the perseverance and pride of nine nursing students at a December 11 Pinning Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the students’ journeys.
The students graduated with their Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) for the registered nurse.
Nursing faculty and students plan the ceremony, which includes a class video, student remarks in English and Spanish, a “passing of the torch” recognizing incoming and outgoing Student Nurse Association members, and a recitation of the Nightingale Pledge.
For Nursing Faculty Member Dr. Cheryl Davis, the pinning itself is especially meaningful each year. “I always love watching [recipients] walk up and seeing their expressions and their families' expressions on their faces as they’re pinned,” said Davis. “Everyone looks so proud.”
Davis described the pin’s intentional design: “We have a really beautiful pin, and it’s shaped like a pyramid,” she said. “It’s very unique to the college, and it has the maroon and the white.”
“Getting pinned, I think, is a really big moment,” said Candie Genesis Daniel, a student nurse who spoke at the ceremony. “We struggle so much during the nursing program. It’s grueling. Mentally, physically, it’s exhausting. You really have to throw yourself all in.”
“To know that we’re at the epitome of what we’ve been working so hard for really does make it feel all worthwhile,” added Daniel.
The Nightingale Pledge, named in honor of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, connects prospective nurses to those who have come before them.
“We always invite the new grads to stand up along with any nurses that are in the audience, and we recite the pledge in unison,” said Davis. “It’s a powerful, meaningful moment for everybody, and it gives everybody a sense of pride about the profession.”
Nursing Department Chairperson Laurel R. Thomas described the essence of nursing as being "driven by a heartfelt desire to care for humanity."
"While our students certainly work tirelessly throughout the program, they are guided by compassion and a genuine calling to serve — often caring for individuals during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives," Thomas said.
Davis described how candidates who choose Triton College for their nursing education are well-prepared for an evolving industry.
“Our nursing program combines classroom instruction and extensive hands-on clinical experiences in local health care settings,” she said, while students develop related skills including cultural competency, critical thinking and effective communication.
“By the time that they reach our pinning milestone, they have been fully immersed in the professional standards of teamwork, patient safety, and clinical decision-making,” added Davis.
“We help build a skilled workforce that is needed, and that’s going to strengthen the health and wellbeing of the entire community,” said Davis.
From group study sessions to middle-of-the-night texts, Daniel said she and her peers have supported each other and grown closer.
“I think that’s my biggest takeaway,” she said. “You sacrifice what seems like a lot, but it really is so worth it, and I promise it goes by in the blink of an eye.”
Davis said nursing program alumni often return to Triton to mentor or share their skills, and Triton also encourages alumni, linking them to employers or universities where they can pursue their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
“We always want to make sure Triton is a place where they can find guidance and support and community, in a community that is going to celebrate their success,” she said.
“Through challenges, long days and moments of doubt, they keep pushing forward just because they’re driven by that desire to care for other people and become a nurse,” added Davis. “Their perseverance reflects how strong they are, how compassionate they are, and how they have an unwavering type of commitment to the nursing profession.”
Learn more about Triton’s nursing programs at triton.edu/nursing.
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Media Contact:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Rachel K. Hindery | rachelhindery@triton.edu
ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE Triton College is an institution of higher education dedicated to student success. Triton offers more than 120 degree and certificate programs designed for students to realize their career aspirations and effectively compete in a global economy. The college campus spans 110 acres in River Grove, Illinois, holds classes at satellite locations and offers online learning opportunities. Triton’s exemplary faculty and staff work to provide high-quality, convenient and affordable educational opportunities to more than 10,000 students each year. Triton College is a member of The Community Colleges of Illinois and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Learn more at triton.edu.