UAHT to Celebrate Nursing Grads with Pinning Ceremony And You’re Invited

Have you ever been to a nurses' pinning ceremony? Here is your chance to see this very special ceremony as the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana is hosting one for the students graduating from the Licensed Practical Nursing program and the community is invited.

The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 6 at 6 PM in the Hempstead Hall Theater on the Hope campus.

The History of the Nurse Pinning Ceremony

The ceremony is steeped in history and it goes all the way back to the 12th century and the Crusades. That's when monks took care of the sick and injured soldiers and were given crosses as a symbol for their service.

Then, in the 1860s, Florence Nightingale was honored for her work in the Crimean War. Later, when she was teaching, she would award medals to her top nursing students. Nurse pinning ceremonies were a tradition in England, and by 1916, they were in the United States, too.

The History of the UAHT Nursing Pin

Now, all nursing schools have their very own unique pin for nursing graduates. The UAHT pin was designed by Hazel Underwood in 1966.  Underwood was the first director and teacher of the Practical Nurse Program at UAHT.

The UAHT pin has the shape of Arkansas with a circle around it, symbolizing the cycle of life.

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You can learn more about the LPN program or apply for the program at the Hope campus online here Deadline to apply for the next program is Thursday, May 1, at 4:30 PM.