Celeste Lewis, left, and Brandi Quinn were all smiles at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s pinning ceremony. (photo by Susan Urmy)
Pinning ceremony marks milestone for VUSN students
One of the largest groups in Vanderbilt University School of Nursing's history received their professional pins of Nursing at a ceremony held Sunday at Belmont University's Curb Center.
VUSN Dean Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D., CNM, awarded pins to more than 260 students before a crowd of more than 2,000 friends and family members in attendance. Six students were presented with their post-master’s certification of completion.
Molly Goidel, right, was among the nearly 300 VUSN students recognized at Sunday’s event. (photo by Susan Urmy)
Vanderbilt's nursing program begins and ends in August. The pinning ceremony formally recognizes students when they finish their master's program and welcomes them into the discipline of nursing. Students are also encouraged to return to campus for Vanderbilt's official commencement in the spring.
“You will carry the Vanderbilt name – and the black and gold – around the world to make a difference,” Conway-Welch said.
Linda Norman, DSN, R.N., senior associate dean for Academics, explained that the professional pin is a symbol that harkens back to Florence Nightingale, and each nursing school in the country has its own uniquely designed pin. VUSN’s pin features Cornelius Vanderbilt.
VUSN Dean Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D., CNM, left, presents Hannah Beth Browning with her pin. (photo by Susan Urmy)
During the ceremony, each of the school's program directors presented an award for the outstanding student in each specialty area:
• Brittini Lynn Sesler — Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program
• Noriko Morgan — Adult Nurse Practitioner Program
• Jennifer Kay Beasock — Clinical Management
• Lauren Elizabeth Lakvold — Family Nurse Practitioner Program
• Molly Colleen McCadden — Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program
• Kimberly Maria Bodine — Nursing Informatics
• Kimberly Fox Allen — Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Program
• Robyn Jones DeVore — Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program
•Julie Marie Johnson— Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program
• Annie Waldrum Moore — Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Program
Other awards included the Amy Frances Brown prize for excellence in writing, given to student Elyse Kleidon. Elizabeth Morse won the VUSN alumni award.
Two faculty members were also honored by the student body. Lola Bamigboye, MSN, received the Julia Hereford Award for her contributions outside the clinics and classroom. Mary Ann Jessee, MSN, was honored with the Sara K. Archer Award for outstanding contributions to teaching and scholarliness.