Bunker Hill Community College Celebrates Fall 2025 Nursing Graduates at Pinning Ceremony
Monday, January 5, 2026
BHCC celebrated the graduates of its Registered Nursing Program during the Fall 2025 Pinning Ceremony on December 17. The event marked an important milestone as students moved from nursing students to licensed registered nurses.
Family members, friends, faculty, and College leaders gathered to celebrate the dedication, resilience, and compassion shown by the graduating class. The ceremony featured remarks from the program and College faculty, student speakers from both the Day and Alternative options, the official pinning of graduates, and the recitation of the Nightingale Pledge.
“This ceremony is not simply about completing a program,” said Kristen Wenger, Director of Nurse Education. “The pin you receive today reflects your commitment to serve others, advocate for your patients, and uphold the values of this profession with integrity and heart.” Wenger also highlighted the diversity of the graduating class and the perseverance required to complete one of the region’s most rigorous nursing programs.
Maryanne Atkinson, Dean of Health Sciences, congratulated the graduates and acknowledged the critical role of faculty and families. “You’ve all worked so hard for this,” Atkinson said. “Your faculty have been there for you every step of the way, and your loved ones carried you through the long hours and sacrifices that made this day possible.”
Student speaker Diana Paulino Castillo, representing the Day Option, reflected on the shared journey of her cohort. “These two years created a bond that only grew stronger with every obstacle we faced,” she said. “We showed up for each other, lifted each other up, and became not just classmates, but a family.”
Representing the Alternative Option, Sarah Chandler emphasized perseverance and community. “Some people in this room carried very heavy things while earning this degree,” she said. “Yet everyone kept going, showed up, and got it done. What I’ll miss most is the people who reminded each other why this work matters.”
Following the pinning, graduates stood alongside faculty and practicing nurses to recite the Nightingale Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to ethical practice, compassion, and lifelong learning. The ceremony concluded with congratulations from nursing leadership and a reminder to prepare for the next milestone: the NCLEX licensure exam.
“As you begin your nursing journey, remember this,” Wenger said in closing. “Your knowledge will guide you, your skill will support you, but compassion will define you.”
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Watch the Full Nurse Pinning Ceremony Video