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Northwestern College Celebrates Pinning Ceremony for its 2nd Class of Nursing Graduates!

[Bridgeview/Rosemont, IL] Northwestern College’s Violet Schumacher School of Nursing recently held its Pinning Ceremony to celebrate the completion of the College’s second class of nursing students! Twenty six (26) nursing students participated in the traditional pinning ceremony for nurses, signifying their successful completion of the Nursing Program and eligibility to sit for the nursing boards (N-CLEX). These nursing students have now earned their Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Nursing. Upon successful completion of the N-CLEX, they will receive the Registered Nurse (RN) designation.

The Ceremony was hosted in the auditorium of Northwestern College’s Bridgeview Campus, which is also where Northwestern College’s Violet 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 Janelle Sokolowich, MSN, the Acting Dean of Nursing and an Associate Professor of the Nursing School. During the ceremony Associate Professor Deann Ryan, MSN, CNM, WHNP provided a history of the pinning ceremony itself. All of the Nursing School’s faculty were present for this momentous event in the nursing education of these 26 students.

Nursing student Maleha Hassan was selected by her classmates to serve as the 2013 Class Speaker and gave a heartfelt address during the ceremony. In addition, each of the nursing students provided reflections on the past two years of their education as they worked up to the pinning ceremony.

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The ceremony featured the traditional presentation of pins to each individual student, with each student’s name announced by Associate Professor Deann Ryan. The actual pinning of each nursing student was done by Acting Dean Sokolowich. The ceremony concluded with the lighting of a candle held by a lantern, symbolizing the passing of the flame from one of the most well-known nurses, Florence Nightingale. The flame was passed along to each nurse and was followed by the recitation of the nurse's pledge. The event concluded with a reception hosted by the College.

The Violet 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 1956. Violet Schumacher was a visionary who advocated for students seeking higher education and she served as President Emeritus of the College until her death this past April at the age of 98. Her son Lawrence Schumacher has served as Northwestern College’s President since 1978 and was present at the 2013 pinning ceremony for the School of Nursing named in his mother’s honor.

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“We are so very proud of our 2013 Nursing Class!” President Lawrence Schumacher professed. “As they leave Northwestern College’s Violet Schumacher School of Nursing to begin their nursing careers, we celebrate their accomplishments and wish them the best. They have a solid education with which to build successful nursing careers. They can now go out into the world and heal the sick, just as Florence Nightingale did so many years ago.”

About Northwestern College: 
Northwestern College (NC) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 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 with campuses in Chicago, Bridgeview, and Online. More information can be found at www.northwesterncollege.edu or by calling toll-free (888) 205-2283.

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