The traditional nurse pinning ceremony Thursday and the commencement on Friday capped off the end of the academic year for 324 Labette Community College students last week.
On Thursday, 30 nurses received their pins in advance of graduation. On Friday, graduates walked the stage at the Seaton Family Pavilion in Forest Park.
The nurse pinning signifies a nursing student’s transition from education to the nursing profession. DeLyna Bohnenblust, director of nursing education at LCC, placed the pins on the lapels of the students’ white coats. The students then recited the Nightingale Pledge.
One nursing graduate, Kylie Coble, earned her associate’s in nursing at LCC and her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing at the same time.
Bohnenblust recognized Coble’s hard work in achieving this. She said LCC and KU have had a long partnership in nursing education.
“This is a remarkable accomplishment that speaks volumes about her determination, discipline and dedication to the nursing profession,” Bohnenblust said of Coble.
Coble was pinned on Thursday, graduated from LCC on Friday, participated in her pinning ceremony Saturday at KU and then walked down the hill on Sunday for the traditional graduation ceremony at KU, Bohnenblust said.
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Natalie Chapman shakes hands with DeLyna Bohnenblust, Labette Community Colege nursing director, Thursday during the nurse pinning ceremony at Parsons Municipal Auditorium. Ray Nolting/Sun photo
Aaron Stammer, a 1998 LCC nursing graduate, was speaker at the pinning Thursday.
He is an executive remote support specialist for Abbott, a medical technology company.
He served as an emergency room and ICU registered nurse. He also worked internationally as a missionary intern. Upon his return, he joined the cardiac cath lab at St. John’s, helping with various heart procedures and surgeries. He joined the medical device industry in 2004 as a field clinical engineer.
He shared information about his career and advice for the new nursing graduates.
“First and foremost, take care of yourself. Be ruthless about getting enough sleep,” he said, adding that lack of sleep is killing us.
Eat nourishing food and avoid processed foods as often as you can, he said, and stay away from energy drinks.
Walk, exercise, breathe, work hard, he said. Nurses are wired differently, he said, a fact he’s learned after two decades as a nurse and educator. He urged the graduates to care for themselves and take care of their loved ones.
Natalie Weldon spoke to her fellow graduates as well. She said nursing students from varied backgrounds learned how to work together to reach their goals. They found common ground in their compassion, love and empathy, she said.
Two nursing students spoke at the 101st commencement for LCC on Friday in Forest Park.
Brooklynn Tinker, who earned an associate’s in nursing, will work toward her bachelor of science in nursing at Pittsburg State University and then her doctorate of nursing practice.
Tinker, a St. Paul High School graduate, congratulated students for their hard work and determination. She said she chose LCC for its nursing program and for a chance at joining the school’s Spirit Squad. The school also was close to home and she had scholarship opportunities to make her education more affordable, she said.
She said she felt welcome from her first week at LCC and she knew because of that experience that all would be OK. She learned how to lead from her time at LCC, she said.
Tinker encouraged new students to befriend the kitchen staff, learn where the printing stations are, get a library card and then actually use the library.
“Step out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s by joining a club, going to a game, or meeting someone new. And, most importantly, know where the free snacks are.
“As I wrap up, I want to thank the people who helped me get here. To my parents, for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. To Brandy, thank you for your wisdom and calm voice when I needed it most. To Harrison and the red couch therapy sessions, and to Becky and Trudy in the kitchen. Thank you for making sure no one went hungry. Your kindness, compassion and empathy never went unnoticed.”
She also thanked those who didn’t believe in her.
“You were my extra motivation. You helped shape me into someone ready to graduate from nursing school and to become the nurse I worked so hard to be,” Tinker said.
Caleb Wood, another nursing graduate, was the second speaker. He also hopes to continue his education and earn a bachelor of science in nursing.
He said he learned while in the depths of the nursing program to pause, pray and trust the process, even when things didn’t seem to be going his way.
He thanked those who invested in LCC and provided scholarships to invest in LCC’s students. He thanked the instructors and staff for helping students find success.
He suggested that the graduates pay forward the gratitude from their time at LCC. Mentor others, support the community, offer words of encouragement.
“Turn around and invest in others what has
