FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 20, 2023
Maria College celebrates nursing graduates with White Tea ceremony
Albany, NY – On Friday, May 19, Maria College celebrated the Class of 2023 nursing graduates in its RN-BS Completion, Nursing, AAS (RN), and Practical Nurse Certificate (LPN) programs with a White Tea celebration.
The White Tea featured the presentation of nursing pins to graduating Maria College students. Each pin represents the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and the acquisition of skills necessary for success in the nursing profession. Following the pinning ceremony selected students delivered speeches that reflected on their educational journey, expressed their gratitude, and inspired their peers.
The White Tea also included remarks from Maria College’s Dean of Nursing, Colleen Carmody, Ed.D., CNS, RN. Dr. Carmody inspired the graduates in her address saying, “Despite all the challenges with completing your nursing degree during a global pandemic our incredible graduates demonstrated great resilience and worked very hard to be here today. I know each of you will make a difference and do great things and we will be there cheering for you along the way, grateful you have chosen to be our next generation of nurses.”
The pinning ceremony has its roots in the late 1800s, when Florence Nightingale pinned her nurses upon the completion of their nursing education, signifying their entry into the profession. By the early 1900s, it became customary for schools of nursing to have a pinning ceremony for their graduates. A nurse’s pinning ceremony is a symbolic gesture of faculty welcoming graduates into the profession of nursing. Each school’s pin is unique to that school. The Maria College pin represents the commitment of the institution and the Sisters of Mercy to the caring service of others and to Florence Nightingale’s vision of shared knowledge and life-long learning.
During the ceremony, Stacy Kilts ’93, MS, RNC-MNN, Assistant Director ADN Program at Maria College was presented with the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty. The Award was created to recognize and celebrate the contributions that faculty make to the nursing profession through educating the next generation of nurses. Stacy shared in her remarks, “I am humbled by the nomination for the DAISY Nurse Faculty Award. Compassionate caring motivates me as an educator to do all in my power to help students achieve their goals. My White Tea celebration thirty years ago was held just over there in Marian Hall. When I earned my master’s degree in nursing education, there was only one place I wanted to teach; right here at Maria. I wanted to pass on the art and science of nursing that was shared with me here all those years ago.”
“The White Tea pinning ceremony is a cherished tradition at Maria College,” said Dr. Ortale. “It is a rite of passage for our nursing graduates that symbolizes their incredible transformation from students to professional nurses. We are beyond proud to have graduated the most nurses in the Capital Region and are doing our part to meet the growing demand for the nursing profession.”
In addition to the White Tea, Maria College will celebrate the Commencement of the Class of 2023 on Sunday, May 21, in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.
To learn more about Maria College’s 2023 Commencement events, visit https://mariacollege.edu/commencement.
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About Maria College: Founded in 1958, Maria College is one of 17 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The private, co-educational, Catholic college in Albany serves approximately 850 students in a variety of bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, a master’s degree, and a certificate program including liberal arts, healthcare management, nursing, psychology, and occupational therapy. mariacollege.edu.
Media Contact:
Nancy Welsh, Director of Communication
nwelsh@mariacollege.edu
518-861-2573 Office
518-603-1528 Cell