Eighteen students from South Georgia Technical College’s Practical Nursing program were honored in a recent pinning ceremony held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the Americus campus. Surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and administrators, the graduates took part in the time-honored tradition celebrating their entry into the nursing profession.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford welcomed those in attendance and congratulated the graduates on their accomplishment. “Practical Nursing is a very rigorous program,” Dr. Watford said. “It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s for people who really care about giving care. We congratulate you today, and we honor you.”
Graduate J’Tyja Smith followed with the invocation.
Practical Nursing instructor Jennifer Childs provided a class overview and presented a slideshow featuring the students over the course of their studies in the program. She also spoke on the significance of the day. “The pinning ceremony is a tradition in nursing,” Child’s said, “and it signifies that you’re no longer a nursing student – you’re becoming a nurse.”
Brittany Wills was selected by her classmates to deliver remarks. “This year stretched us, challenged us, and transformed us,” she said. “We have cried, laughed, doubted ourselves, encouraged each other, and learned that success isn’t about how perfect you are, it’s about resilience, patient self-reflection, and refusing to quit when things get hard.”
After the speech, Jennifer Childs and fellow Practical Nursing instructor Christine Rundle called each member of the class to the stage individually to receive their pin and a rose.
Graduates receiving their pins were: Daisha Alston of Americus, pinned by Clint Anthony, FNP; Nina Battle of Americus, pinned by Jaquita Hodge; Kaila Burton of Americus, pinned by her aunt Carmen Harvey, RN; Kyra Davis of Americus, pinned by her cousin Shaquita Leverette, RN, BSN; Asia Dawson of Cordele, pinned by April Thompson, RN and her cousin Shecovia Savage, LPN; Kiasia Ford of Americus, pinned by her cousin Shiquinna Munford, RN; Nakerria Hinton of Ideal, pinned by her aunt Cabresha Hinton-Fulks, LPN; Julia Hogg of Warner Robins, pinned by her mother Tiffany Woodard, RN; Deziray Horn of Americus, pinned by Destinee Bridges, LPN; Jenacia Jennings of Albany, pinned by her aunt Dibrona Green, RN; Porsha Owens of Warner Robins, pinned by her cousin Monshannon Duncan, RN; Yasmine Protho of Richland, pinned by her cousin Dawanna Carter, RN; Dana Rogers of Montezuma, pinned by Karen Hatten, FNP; Delisa Slappey of Plains, pinned by Erica Speir, MSN, RN; J’Tyja Smith of Butler, pinned by Jareca French, LPN; Keltsy Watts of Leesburg, pinned by Stephanie Nelton; Brittany Wills of Ellaville, pinned by her father-in-law Darell Holbrook, EMT-1; and Valarie Young of Americus, pinned by her niece Destinee Young, RN.
After the pinning, Slappey led the class in the Nurse’s Pledge and the lighting of the lamp. Instructor Christine Rundle gave closing remarks followed by a prayer and benediction by graduate Kyra Davis.
The Practical Nursing program at South Georgia Technical College is one of over 200 programs SGTC offers leading to a degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit. Learn more about all of the programs and apply for enrollment at www.southgatech.edu. Spring semester registration is January 6, and classes begin January 7.