In a ceremony marked with joy, solemnity and the pride of accomplishment, 29 Bainbridge College (BC) Practical Nursing Program students received Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) pins at the Charles H. Kirbo Regional on Main Campus.

Students receiving pins in the traditional pinning ceremony were Christy Elijah, Ashley Finley, Misty Fudge, Linda King, Melissa H. Lambert, Adrianne Lewis, Leteka Scott, Patricia Scott and Tina Tomberlin, all of Bainbridge; Summar Caesar and Jeannie Wilkerson of Blakely; Lajanda P. James andTangla Reynolds of Boston; Nicole Lyons of Brinson; Janine R. Birchett, Nicole Hatch, Sherika Hubbard, Roger Pierce and Narissa D. Robinson, all ofCairo; Jenny L. Wisham of Camilla; Aleta Griffin of Climax; Jamie Merritt of Colquitt; Jamie Weaver of Columbia, AL; Darryl Simmons ofDonalsonville; Alicia M. Haisley of Ellenwood; Dena M. Baker-Jones of Iron City; and Jamila H.M. McNish, Tanisha Rhodes and Melinda Spears, all ofThomasville.

The May 7 activities included the traditional lighting of lamps and awards presentations. LPN Program Director Doris Carmichael presented student awards. LPN Club President Roger Pierce received the Leadership Award. Janine Birchett received both the Team Award and the Academic Excellence Award. Sherika Hubbard and Daryl Simmons tied for the Most Supportive Award. Christy Elijah earned the Rose Bud Award as the most improved.

Following the solemn opening procession, BC President Dr. Tom Wilkerson welcomed those attending. Also participating on the program were Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Mariam Dittmann, who read the students’ prepared comments as they received their pins; LPN faculty members Andrea Ferguson, Wanda Green, Gena Peterson, Tiffany Torres and Nita Widener, who assisted with the pinning; Barbara Stephens, interim chair of the Technical Studies Division, who presented the class; BC faculty member Mary Glenn Grimes, who made a special presentation; and Erin Lancaster, who played the piano.

LPN students participating in the program included LPN Club President Roger Pierce, who gave the student welcome and sang with Jamilah McNish andDena Baker-Jones; Lateka Scott, who led the candle lighting and the Nightingale Pledge, Janine Birchett, who presented awards to the faculty on behalf of the graduates, and Lajanda James and Sherika Hubbard, who gave the invocation and the benediction, respectively.

Also recognized during the ceremony were Allied Health Program Assistant Annette Higdon and LPN faculty members Lee Green, Barbara Hall and Danny Stephens.