Senior Recognition Ceremony honors newest generation of nurses

06/02/2011 3:12 PM

This year’s Senior Recognition Ceremony was held on May 13, the day before Spring Commencement, in the newly built Renaissance Coliseum.

“It was nice to have it in Renaissance Coliseum this year because we didn’t have to limit the number of people a student could have there for support,” said Dr. Fran Armmer, Chair of the Department of Nursing.

Within the Senior Recognition Ceremony is the Pinning Ceremony. Graduating nursing majors are presented with nursing pins, signifying their official entry into the profession.

“It felt great to finally be pinned,” said Ben Henry ’11. “I know this is just the beginning of my nursing career, but I’m excited.”

The pinning ceremony is a long-standing tradition held by the nursing profession. Henry’s mother, who is also a nurse, was delighted to learn that Bradley continues to recognize the tradition.

“Our Pinning Ceremony was extra special to me because I was the third generation to be pinned and the fourth nurse in my family. My grandmother, Betty Perry, was pinned at OSF St. Francis back in the 1950s and my mother, Sandra Perry, was pinned almost 35 years to the day at Bradley,” Henry said.

There were several instances of special recognition at this year’s ceremony. CaLyn Dannenberg was in the running for the “Spirit of Nursing” Award and was presented a certificate by a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army. Sarah Lutgen was recognized as the National Student Nurses Association Essay Contest winner. Global Scholars were also recognized; there were eight from the nursing program this year.

The Pinning Ceremony was special to Ben Henry, but in the end, he knows that the education he received at Bradley is what will take him to where he wants to go.

“The education I received was great. I know I had my hard times, but I pulled through and I know that will benefit me in the end. The faculty members are really behind you if you need help. I know that anytime I asked one of them for help or a reference, they were right behind me and came through for me!” Henry said.