An awards and recognition ceremony recently celebrated the achievements of 76 Wor-Wic Community College graduates who earned associate degrees and certificates in nursing.
The ceremony was held at Parkside High School in Salisbury. Participants received nursing pins, a tradition in which the faculty presents graduates with pins to signify their accomplishment. The pinning ceremony has roots back to the 12th century, when knights who aided the injured received a Maltese cross badge. Later, Florence Nightingale, who revolutionized the nursing profession in the 1800s, presented similar medals to her best students. Today, nurse pinning represents the completion of educational requirements to become a nurse and the hard work students have invested in their achievement.
Special awards were presented by Dr. Brenda J. Mister, department head and professor of nursing. Justin Benton, a 2017 Wor-Wic nursing graduate who worked at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional before enrolling in medical school at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J., gave a keynote address. Rebecca Dean was the student speaker.
The evening was capped by a lamp-lighting ceremony inspired by Nightingale’s nighttime rounds during the Crimean War, which reflects the light of learning that Wor-Wic nursing students have gained during their studies.
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- From left, nurse classmates Tess Hughes of Salisbury and Kelly Hendrix of Berlin celebrate their achievement with Hendrix’s daughter Catelyn Shea and Hendrix’s husband Tom Saunders at the Wor-Wic Community College nursing awards and recognition ceremony.
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- Rachael Crockett of Salisbury, left, prepares for the Wor-Wic Community College nursing awards and recognition ceremony with some help from her mother, Leighann Mrohs of Crisfield.
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- Associate degree in nursing graduates of Wor-Wic Community College who participated in a recent awards and recognition ceremony are shown in a group photo.
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- Certificate of practical nursing graduates of Wor-Wic Community College who participated in a recent awards and recognition ceremony are shown in a group photo.
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- Justin Benton, a 2017 Wor-Wic Community College nursing graduate who is now at medical school, delivered the keynote address at the nursing awards and recognition ceremony.
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- From left Eva Young of Newark is congratulated by her son Newthing at the Wor-Wic Community College nursing awards and recognition ceremony.
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- Rebecca Dean, who was the class speaker, receives a nursing pin from Chelsea Milligan, instructor of nursing, at the nursing awards and recognition ceremony.
