OFTC Practical Nursing Students Pinned During December Ceremony

Dublin, Ga., (OFTC) –Six Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC) Practical Nursing (PN) students were honored during the College’s December Pinning Ceremony held on the Dublin Campus, Monday, December 2.  

Each December OFTC holds this ceremony to symbolize the nursing student’s completion of the educational requirements needed to sit for the state board licensure examination and to welcome them into the family of nurses.    

“It has been such an honor to witness the growth of these students from advisement to graduation,” shared Kerrie Fountain, PN Instructor on the Dublin Campus. “They have gone from students who dreamt of becoming nurses and are now our colleagues,” she added. “We can’t wait to see what wonderful nurses these graduates become.” 

The tradition of the pinning ceremony dates to the Crusades when members of the Knight Hospitallers were honored with Maltese crosses after caring for wounded soldiers. Then in the 1860’s Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, continued the tradition when she decided all nursing students who completed nursing training deserved recognition. 

Ashley Howell, a Practical Nursing student who was a part of the pinned class, addressed her fellow soon-to-be nurses, reflecting on their journey throughout the program to get where they are today.  

During the ceremony each graduating nurse received their pin, lit the ceremonious candle, and recited the Nightingale Pledge in honor of Florence Nightingale.   

Graduating Nurses 

Allana Anderson, Washington County 

Marissa Arnold, Bleckley County 

Aja Brown, Laurens County 

Makayla Givens, Laurens County 

Ashley Howell, Telfair County 

Tempestt Lundy, Bibb County 

For more info on OFTC’s Practical Nursing program, visit the College’s website, OFTC.edu. 

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OFTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.