Holyoke Community College to Present Nurse Pinning Ceremony Tonight

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College will recognize 48 new graduates of its associate-degree program in nursing with a traditional pinning ceremony tonight, May 31, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The ceremony will be held in the Leslie Phillips Theater in HCC’s Fine & Performing Arts Building.

Nursing Professor Kara Moriarty was chosen by the graduates to deliver the keynote speech. Other speakers include HCC president Christina Royal; Monica Perez, vice president of Academic Affairs; and Clare Lamontagne, dean of the Health & Natural Sciences.

The pinning ceremony is a time-honored nursing school tradition that signifies the nursing students’ official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of nurses. The ceremony is rich with symbolism, completed with the lighting of candles and recitation of the Nightingale Pledge. 

“This class is a diverse group of both traditional and non-traditional students,” said HCC Professor of Nursing Johanna Kolodziej. “Many have families and have worked throughout school. Many will go directly into the workforce; others plan to continue their educations and begin studies toward their bachelor’s degrees in nursing starting this fall.”