The pinning ceremony for Indiana University East nursing graduates on Friday, May 11, begins at 2:30 p.m. with a slide show followed by the ceremony at 3 p.m. The annual ceremony for nursing students will be held at the Central United Methodist Church, located at 1425 E. Main Street in Richmond.

Graduates will receive their pin to wear for commencement which will be held that night at 6 p.m. at the Richmond High School Tiernan Center. Also at this ceremony, nursing awards will be given to students. This year, 64 nursing students will graduate with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.

Karen Clark, dean of the School of nursing, said the pinning ceremony is a time-honored tradition which signifies a rite of passage into the nursing profession. Each school’s pin represents historical facts about the school or nursing program from which the student graduates. The IU School of Nursing BSN pin is designed to represent the seal of the School of Nursing that was adopted in 1970 at the time of the 150th anniversary of Indiana University.

“We are proud of all of our 2012 graduates. As they continue their journey as professional nurses, they will positively impact health care and the clients for which they care,” Clark said.

Kristin Francis of West Harrison, Ind., is the Elizabeth Grossman Award Nominee. Each year Elizabeth Grossman, former dean of the Indiana University School of Nursing, recognizes a student from each program who has maintained the highest Nursing Grade Point Average (NGPA) on all IU campuses. These students will be placed in a pool with other IU students with the highest NGPA and the winner will receive a small cash award and an award certificate.  The overall winners will be announced later this month.

The School of Nursing will recognize the students who received outstanding awards during the Honors Convocation held April 19. Francis was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholar Award and Robin Brunk, Eldorado, Ohio, received the Outstanding Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student Award and Ramona Bezold, Lawrenceburg, Ind., Outstanding RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student Award.

During the pinning ceremony, students inducted to the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Chapter, will be recognized. Bachelor of Science in Nursing student inductees to the honor society are Robin Brunk, Eldorado, Ohio, Danielle Dixon, Brookville, Ind., Jessica Emrick, Winchester, Ind., Kira Haubach, Eaton, Ohio, Anthony Moore, Connersville, Ind., and Nicole Patterson, Milton, Ind. Inductees in the Registered Nurse to Bashelor of Science in Nursing program include Keri Amberger, Sunman, Ind., Jeanna Dunn, North Vernon, Ind., Julie Frossard, Pendleton, Ind., Vienna Honacker, Connersville, Ind., Jennifer Keith, Rising Sun, Ind., Julie McConnell, Sunman, Ind., Loretta Murray, Aurora, Ind., Sheree Neuman, Milan, Ind., Tina Pugh, Eaton, Ohio, Sherrie Romans, Vevay, Ind., Sherry West, Madison, Ind., and Maryellen Zepczyk-Race, Greendale, Ind.

For more information, contact the School of Nursing at (765) 973-8213 or visit iue.edu/nursing.