To congratulate winter nursing graduates, Augusta University hosted a pinning ceremony to to celebrate each student’s successfully completed journey through the nursing program.
Honoring a tradition with roots dating back to the 1800s, almost 140 graduates attended the ceremony where they received a blue and gold pin to represent their time at the university.
“Graduates, the College of Nursing pin that you are about to receive is so much more than a piece of jewelry. It is worn by many decades of legacy graduates of our institution, and it embodies all that is to come in your nursing future as well as all that you have achieved to this point,” said College of Nursing Dean Tanya Sudia.
Exceptional students in the program were also inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau, an international nursing honor society – the second largest nursing organization in the world.
As students received their pins and honor cords, family and friends took turns cheering for their beloved students and faculty congratulated each individually.
Graduate Stanley Nwizu, who was a financial planner before becoming a nursing student, said studying with friends and sharing in the program’s community aspect strongly impacted his experience.
“I was able to balance my weaknesses with their strengths,” said Nwizu. “One of the gifts that I have is that I can bond with patients, and patients can see that you really want to help – it helps develop that interaction.”
Originally from Africa and coming from a family of nursing legacies, Nwizu said he knew there was a heavy need within the healthcare field, and wanted to pursue a career that made a difference in others’ lives. He also said the pinning ceremony helped further instill the program’s united front against sickness and adversity.
“It makes you determined not to be left behind, and to really do your work,” he said.
Prior to becoming a nursing student, Althea Hubbard was a professor with a doctorate in French who taught at University of Georgia. She decided to switch career paths to help others.
“It feels so good to be done. It was a really hard program, so that just makes it all the more special to have made it,” she said. “We all had been through the same classes together, and just made it feel like we all knew what we had gone through. It was nice to have that closure.”
As a mother, Hubbard said her family was a huge motivation factor in finishing the program, and she is excited to make a positive difference while trying new things.
For those who might also be considering a career switch, she advised them to truly take the time to get to know themselves, and choose something based on their goals and passions.
“It’s okay. Don’t be afraid of being the oldest person in the room, and just go for it,” she said. “It’s never too late.”
Class President and Augusta native Jacob Sumpter said he was grateful for the ceremony, because it helped ground him in the fact that he had truly finished the program and earned his degree.
“I was in shock, and it kind of snuck up on me. Today is the first day where it actually feels very real – all this hard work has finally paid off and we’re done,” said Sumpter. “A lot of times, we’re so busy and so stressed … we were doing deadlines up until two days ago, so it’s one of those times where we can say, ‘ hey, you can stop.’”
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He wanted to strive for a career that allowed him to help people through some of the most difficult aspects and moments of life, he said.
In regard to the grueling requirements and tough course work, Sumpter attributed an enormous part of his success to working with his colleagues and establishing life-long connections to motivate each other through the hard tests and assignments.
“The faculty always stressed to us the importance of time management and working with it, and I think this program really prepares you for that in the nursing field,” he said.
As families gifted bouquets to graduates and took turns taking photos, there were many exclamations of excitement at finally achieving this goal, and moving onto the next phase of life in the world of medicine.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
