The pinning ceremony for Indiana University East nursing graduates begins at 2:30 p.m. with a slide show and the ceremony at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 13. 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, 58 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.

Amanda Fischer, Ansonia, Ohio, and Barbara Haney, Eaton, Ohio, are the Elizabeth Grossman Award Nominees. 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 28. Haney was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholar Award; Cecile Dixon, Hamilton, Ohio, received the Outstanding RN to BSN Student Award; Denise Thornburg, Lynn, Ind., received the Outstanding BSN Student Award; and Fischer also received the Naomi Osborne Award, an honor given to the graduate with the highest grade point average. As the Naomi Osborne recipient, Fischer will lead the graduating class during the alumni induction ceremony.

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 Katrina Bertram, Dublin, Ind.; Tyler Bothast, Liberty, Ind.;  Steven Fields, Ridgeville, Ind.; Amanda Fischer, Ansonia, Ohio; Barbara Haney, Eaton, Ohio; Hannah Harris, New Madison, Ohio; Julie Horn, Fountain City, Ind.; Venassia Howard, Connersville, Ind.; Janet Hunter, Brookville, Ind.; Jessica Knapp, Richmond, Ind.; Amy Osborn, Connersville, Ind.; Jillian Schultz, West Harrison, Ind.; Mellissa Stephens, Richmond, Ind.; and Denise Thornburg, Lynn, Ind.

The School of Nursing will also recognize those students accepted to the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges. Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree students who received this honor include Hannah Harris, New Madison, Ohio; Tyler Bothast, Liberty, Ind.; Amanda Fischer, Ansonia, Ohio; Barbara Haney, Eaton, Ohio; Cecile Dixon, Hamilton, Ohio; Lyna Timmons, Lewisburg, Ohio; Patricia Smith, Richmond, Ind.; and Julie Horn, Fountain City, Ind.

For more information, contact the School of Nursing at (765) 973-8213.