UAHT Practical Nurse Pinning Ceremony Set for December 16

The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana will celebrate its latest class of Licensed Practical Nursing graduates during the annual nurse pinning ceremony on Tuesday, December 16, at 6 p.m. The event will take place at Hempstead Hall Theater on the Hope, Arkansas campus and is open to the public.

A Tradition Rooted in Nursing History

The pinning ceremony is considered one of the most meaningful milestones in a nurse’s education. Historically, its origins trace back to the 12th-century Knights of the Order of St. John, who cared for injured Crusaders and received Maltese crosses as symbols of service.

The modern version grew in the 1860s when Florence Nightingale received the Red Cross of St. George and began presenting medals to top nursing students. By the early 1900s, pinning had become a standard rite of passage across the country.

UAHT’s Distinctive Nursing Pin

Each nursing program creates its own unique pin. UAHT’s pin was designed in 1966 by Hazel Underwood, the college’s first Practical Nursing Program director and instructor. The cross represents the Knights’ legacy of care, the Arkansas outline symbolizes home, and the circle reflects the cycle of life.

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Public Invited to Attend

UAHT encourages family, friends, and community members to attend and celebrate the graduates as they take their first step into the nursing profession. More information about the college’s nursing programs is available on the UAHT website.

Graduates Pictured

Front Row: Megan Hampton
Second Row (L–R): Evie Harris, Tanya Alvarado
Third Row: Taj Hobson Scroggins, Hale Ward, Michelle Walters
Fourth Row: Tori Bradford, Kalyn Lacaze
Back Row (L–R): Shatoria Cooks, Mahogany Hoof, Jaycee Eaves

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