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uploaded 2/20/25

Pinning Ceremony

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pinning Ceremony

A historic tradition with roots that date back to the Crusades, the Pinning Ceremony officially marks a student’s transition from nursing student to professional nurse. The first pinning ceremony was held at the College of Nursing & Health Sciences (CNHS) in 1974, and the tradition continues nearly 50 years later with students honored at this event today.

UMass Dartmouth hosts two pinning ceremonies, one for the in-person bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program and one for the hybrid accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program. The BSN ceremony takes place in the spring semester, while the ABSN ceremony takes place in the fall semester.

2025 Pinning Ceremony

More information on the upcoming 2025 Pinning Ceremony will be available soon.

2025 ABSN (Hybrid) Pinning Ceremony

More information on the upcoming 2025 ABSN (Hybrid) Pinning Ceremony will be available soon.

Past ceremonies

Guest speaker: Associate Professor Kathleen Elliott

Senior student speakers: Carson Dussinger and Casey Frazier

Faculty speakers: Assistant Professor Valerie Seney, Assistant Dean Uloma Onubogu, Full-Time Lecturer Deborah Armstrong

Read the article recapping the 2024 ABSN Pinning Ceremony.

View the photo gallery.

Guest speaker: Ana Poucochinho, director of clinical operations- primary care at SouthCoast Physicians Group

Senior student speaker: Aaron Ferrante, Deandra Galvin

Faculty speakers: Dr. Lisa Dumont, Dean Kimberly Christopher

Read the article recapping the 2023 ABSN Pinning Ceremony. 

View the photo gallery.

Guest speaker: Dr. Marva Foster, investigator at VA Boston Healthcare System, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), registered nurse at VA Boston Healthcare, and assistant professor of medicine at Boston University's Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, former faculty member and PhD graduate of UMassD CNHS

Senior student speakers: Synnove Ask, Jacob O'Brien

Faculty speakers: Assistant Professor Valerie Seney, Dean Kimberly Christopher, Chancellor Mark Fuller, Professor Teri Reynolds

Read the article recapping the 2023 Pinning Ceremony.

View the photo gallery.

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