Denmark Technical College honored 20 graduating nursing students August 21 at its annual School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, marking their transition from students to health care professionals. Surrounded by family, friends, faculty and college leadership, the graduates were recognized for their academic achievement, resilience and commitment to the nursing profession.
The pinning ceremony, a longstanding tradition in nursing, symbolizes the passage from student to caregiver. The ritual dates to the 1860s, when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of Saint George for her service during the Crimean War.
“These nursing graduates embody the spirit of Denmark Tech,” said Tia Wright-Richards, interim president of Denmark Technical College. “They came here willing to be challenged and through discipline and perseverance they stand ready to serve. They truly reflect our mission to engage, educate and empower.”
“This class has pushed through every hurdle with grit and determination,” said Karen Myers, dean of nursing. “Their commitment to their profession has shaped them into caregivers who are not only skilled but also deeply committed to the patients they will serve.”
Several students received special awards for outstanding performance. Cherell Haynes earned the Highest GPA Award, Kerria Mallory received the Leadership Award, Jolia Brown was presented with the Dean’s Award and Ariella Myers received the Perseverance Award.
The ceremony included the presentation of nursing pins, the capping tradition, the lighting of Nightingale lamps and the recitation of the Florence Nightingale Pledge, each highlighting the students’ commitment to ethical and compassionate care.
The program continues to earn distinction for excellence, with the most recent cohort achieving a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination and a 100 percent job placement rate.
The 2025 graduating class includes Dorothy Bethea, Jolia Brown, Autumn Brown, Tyshawn Brown, Jasmine Butler, James Gainyard, Chaknatdra Green, Cherell Haynes, Marquetta Hordge, Rosalyn Jamison, Tamara Kee, Shayla Kinard, Kerria Mallory, Naughtia Mallory, Ariella Myers, Kimberly Norton, Rhasawn Owens, Johnetta Rivers, Tybrea Shaw and Emily Solis-Aquino.
Class representatives recognized for leadership during the program included James Gainyard, president; Tamara Kee, vice president; and Cherell Haynes, secretary and treasurer.
“These graduates remind us why nursing is a calling, not just a career,” Wright-Richards said. “The profession they enter has the power to transform lives, not only for the patients they serve but for their own families as well. Nursing opens doors to the kind of economic mobility and generational opportunity that changes lives. DTC is proud to be a part of that legacy.”