Nurses Pinning Ceremony | May 8, 2025

Greeted by Mrs. Heidi Fuller’s joyous prelude and by a digital collage of graduate photographs, guests and graduates convened for the 2025 Nurses Pinning Ceremony. Miss Elizabeth Stille, Director of the School of Nursing, welcomed family members, friends, and professionals from the community.

She introduced the nursing faculty and thanked those in other departments across campus for their immeasurable impact on nursing graduates. She expressed appreciation for professional partners, without whom students could not fulfill clinical hours, and she acknowledged individual preceptors who provided practical capstone clinical experience, many of whom served without remuneration.

She explained the significance and history of the pinning ceremony which celebrates graduate accomplishments and completion of their training that qualifies them professionally. The modern ceremony is reflective of Florence Nightingale who was awarded the Red Cross of Saint George by Queen Victoria in recognition of her service during the Crimean War. She later founded a nursing school, presenting graduates with badges of excellence and passing her flame (literally and figuratively) to graduates. Over time the ceremony became a tradition for nursing schools.

In pensive portrayal of Christ, the ultimate Caregiver who “sees His dear children through mercy-filled eyes,” five nursing graduates—Anne Herbster, Kate Brock, Abby Gilliam, Melanie Juarez Montas, and Racquelle Melville—sang Johanna Anderson’s “Lord of the Small.”

Dr. Bryan Brock, Associate Professor in the College of Bible and Church Ministries (and father of one of the nursing graduates), presented the charge to the graduates, which he called “a Christian dad talk, a mentoring opportunity” and which he based on Ephesians 6:5-9, challenging future nurses to use their nursing skills to serve the Lord. “Your ministry is not just your career,” he told them, “but your whole life.” The selected text features employees in the full spectrum—“bond or free,” and he noted that the “heart” of the text—“knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord” (v. 8)—reveals motivation for service. He then addressed how to make a nursing career “count for eternity,” listing key perspectives:

1. Obey your boss as if they were Jesus, because your boss is.

Do it in “singleness of heart” (v. 5)—with sincerity, because the Lord looks on the inside.

2. Do your work as if God was watching, because He is.

Do not do it with “eye-service” (v. 6), aware of what others want to see. Be a “God-pleaser,” doing His will from the heart.

3. Exercise your authority as if God was not impressed by rank, because He’s not.

This includes everyone, including “masters” (v. 9).

He assured them that despite the mundane routine of the nursing profession, everyday tasks are worthy of eternal rewards.

Following Dr. Brock’s charge, Elizabeth Stille reviewed the nursing program, charting student growth in professionalism, critical thinking, leadership skills, and compassion, citing examples from their journal entries. She explained the Florence Nightingale Best Bedside Nurse Award, which is awarded to the student who “demonstrates consistent, outstanding bedside manner, displays godly character, and has high academic achievement.” The student’s name has been added to a plaque that was displayed on the platform. The certificate and monetary award are given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Sutherland. This year’s recipient was Abby Gilliam.

Then the keenly-awaited, momentous pinning began. Maranatha’s blue and gold pins are embellished with a symbolic lamp encircled with the school’s name. Twelve graduates:

  • Ian Lewis Balyo
  • Kate Leanne Brock
  • Emma Rose Carlson
  • Abby Marie Gilliam
  • Makayla Renee Gonzalez
  • Anne Marie Herbster
  • Joanna Carol Jacob
  • Melanie Juarez Montas
  • Miriam Ruth Madsen
  • Racquelle Elisabeth Melville
  • Megan Diane Miller
  • Laura May Pfau

walked to the platform individually, accompanied by family members, one of whom attached the pin to their lab coat. Whereupon graduates crossed the platform to light their candles from the lamp’s flame.

Following their pinning, graduates recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge, vowing to be circumspect and discreet, to strive to elevate professional standards, and to loyally aid the physician, devotedly serving for the welfare of those committed to their care.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Thomas Graham offered a prayer of dedication, asking the Lord to guide graduates, give them strength, enable them to work with purpose and passion, help them remain steadfast and maintain integrity.

Finally, it was Director Stille’s joy and honor to present the Nursing Class of 2025.