[Bridgeview, IL] Northwestern College’s Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing held its Pinning Ceremony to celebrate
the College’s Class of 2016 Nursing Students! Senior students participated in the traditional pinning ceremony for nurses, signifying their induction into the profession. Nursing students graduating from the Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing will have earned their Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Nursing. Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN licensure examination, they will receive the Registered Nurse (RN) designation.
This year’s ceremony was hosted in the auditorium of Northwestern College’s Bridgeview Campus, which is the campus where the Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing is located. The students, staff and faculty all played a part in the development of the ceremony, personalizing it to reflect the members of this particular nursing class. The ceremony was hosted by Mary Reynolds, then interim Campus Director. Two Nursing students were selected to serve as Speakers at the ceremony, including Latisha Hall and Denise Bunch, both of who spoke from their hearts about the journey they had taken, and the lifelong bonds they had made with the members of their Class.
The ceremony featured the traditional presentation of pins to each individual student, with the majority of nursing students being pinned by Nursing Associate Professor Michelle Brown, MSN, RN, although some students chose to be pinned by significant nurses from their own personal lives. The ceremony concluded with the lighting of a candle held by a lantern, symbolizing the passing of the flame from the founder of professional nursing, Florence Nightingale. The flame was passed along to each nurse and was followed by the recitation of the nurse’s oath. The event concluded with a reception hosted by the College.
The Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing opened in the Fall of 2010 and was named for a student of Northwestern College (known as Northwestern Business College from 1902-2008) who later became an employee and then finally purchased the College in 1958. Violet Schumacher was a visionary who advocated for students seeking higher education and served as President Emeritus of the College until her death in 2013 at the age of 98. Her son Lawrence Schumacher has served as Northwestern College’s President since 1978. President Schumacher addressed the senior Nursing students at their Pinning Ceremony, providing a brief history of the College and his mother, the school’s namesake.
“We could not be prouder of our 2016 Nursing Class!” President Lawrence Schumacher professed. “They now have the knowledge and skills necessary to build successful nursing careers. As they leave Northwestern College’s Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing, we celebrate their accomplishments and wish them the best. Just as Florence Nightingale was a bright light in the world, healing the sick, so too will our Nursing graduates of the Class of 2016!”
About Northwestern College:
Northwestern College (NC) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 263-0456, www.ncahlc.org. The college offers focused career-oriented associate degree and certificate programs with flexible schedules and a supportive faculty. Day, evening, weekend, online classes and online programs are available. More information can be found at www.NC.edu or by calling toll-free (888) 205-2283.