Nursing graduates recognized in pinning ceremony

Northwest Florida State College's fall 2017 Associate of Science of Nursing graduates include a number of North Okaloosa County residents. [Special to the News Bulletin]

NICEVILLE — Northwest Florida State College on Dec. 11 recognized students who successfully completed the college's program for Associate Degree in Nursing during the fall 2017 academic semester.

NWFSC recognized two graduates with special awards: Clinical Excellence in Nursing, Sabrina "Breezy" Hupp; and Academic Achievement in Nursing, Melanie Mathis.

Faculty votes on the Clinical Excellence Award, which recognizes the student who consistently demonstrated excellent clinical performance throughout the program. The Academic Achievement Award recipient is the graduate achieving the highest number of academic points in the nursing program.

Fall 2017 Associate of Science of Nursing graduates include:

  • Courtney Barrow (Crestview)
  • Britney L. Bissereth (Crestview)
  • Veneser Turnbull Bridge (Crestview)
  • Eileen Brown (Holt)
  • Andrew Cawthon (Crestview)
  • Shaquiane "Shay" Claybrone (Fort Walton Beach)
  • Dean Conner (Fort Walton Beach)
  • Tyler Corder (Crestview)
  • Natalie Dawson (Navarre)
  • Mackenzie Devlin (Fort Walton Beach)
  • Jessi Fisher (Navarre)
  • Megan Gage-Shirah (Destin)
  • Mallory Golden (Crestview)
  • Byron Hercules (Fort Walton Beach)
  • Breezy Hupp (Fort Walton Beach)
  • Paul A. J. Juliano (Panama City)
  • Rachel LaMotte (Fort Walton Beach)
  • Rachell Lancaster (Crestview)
  • Benrenna Lincoln (Fort Walton Beach)·        
  • Carrie Marlin (Niceville)
  • Melanie Mathis (Crestview)
  • Hannah Pharis (Crestview)
  • Ashley Spence (Fort Walton Beach)
  • Dylan Wadsworth (Baker)

The pinning ceremony, a time-honored tradition, symbolizes completion of educational requirements that enable students to be eligible to sit for the national board licensure exam.

Loved ones, family and friends presented the pins to NWFSC students. At the ceremony’s conclusion, students and all nurses in the audience could stand and recite the nursing pledge.

This rite of passage originates in the 19th century, when Florence Nightingale presented medals for nursing excellence.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nursing graduates recognized in pinning ceremony