One hundred thirty-five (135) students from the Ocean County College Nursing Classwere honored at the annual Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony on Tuesday, May 20 on the College’s main campus in Toms River. The graduates successfully completed a two-year course of study leading to an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing during the fall of 2024 (63 graduates) and spring of 2025 (72 graduates).
“The pinning ceremony is a nursing school tradition,” Dr. Teresa Walsh, dean of OCC’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences, told the graduates assembled on the College’s Gateway Building lawn. “It represents your transition from role of student to nurse.”
The tradition of pinning originally dates back to the 1860s, when Florence Nightingale was presented with a medal for her services as a military nurse. Nightingale in turn rewarded her own nursing students with medals as a symbol of their hard work and dedication. These medals were later replaced with pins that identify the nursing school the students attended.
The Ocean County College School of Nursing continues this tradition by presenting each graduating nurse with a pin that represents the completion of OCC’s nursing program.
“We hope you remember this ceremony long after the celebrations have ended, and as you journey through the exciting, rewarding, and often unpredictable—but gratifying—world of nursing,” Dr. Walsh added.
Dr. Pamela Monaco, president of Ocean County College, also addressed the class. “Today, we celebrate these graduating students’ years of incredible dedication and hard work, and plant a milestone that marks the beginning of their professional careers,” she said. “For us at the College, it is also an opportunity to recognize their outstanding accomplishments as graduates of the rigorous nursing education program here at Ocean County College, as well as our chance to be among the first to welcome them as they enter their new profession.”
More than $44,000 in scholarships and awards was presented to graduates during the ceremony, which was televised live on ocean.edu and on Ocean TV-20 via Comcast Channel 20 and Verizon FiOS of Northern Ocean County Channel 24. Repeat broadcasts will be available throughout the remainder of the month. For more information, visit go.ocean.edu/graduation.