College Holds Private Pinning Ceremony Before Student’s Husband Deployed Overseas
Nearly one week before the College of Nursing pinning ceremony, senior nursing student Molly Morris’s husband, Corporal Lee Morris, will be deployed overseas with his Marine Reserve Unit.
Designated as Molly’s pinner, Corporal Morris was able to pin his wife before his deployment surrounded by fellow students, faculty, and staff, as well as family and friends at a private Pinning Ceremony held by the College.
“Molly was an absolute delight to work with during both my medical-surgical semester and last semester’s career management course,” says Jennifer Cowley, MSN, RN, senior lecturer. “I loved the way she came into nursing and totally embraced the profession. Molly will make an exemplary nurse upon graduation.”
Molly joined the College as a second-degree student, as she received her fist degree from Eastern Kentucky University in emergency medical care and emergency services administration. She will join UK HealthCare’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team upon graduation.
Corporal Morris has served six years in the Marine Reserve Unit with MP Company Alpha, while simultaneously serving as Senior Police Officer with the University of Kentucky Police Department.
“It was our pleasure to provide for them the opportunity to celebrate this accomplishment together,” says Joanne Davis, assistant dean of students. “A special thanks to Lt. Col. Dotson and the Veteran’s Resource Center for graciously sharing their space for this event.”
According to the Museum of Nursing History, the nursing pinning ceremony is rooted in a deep history that dates back to the Maltese Cross. Because of Florence Nightingale, the importance of nursing was recognized and hospitals began developing programs. The nursing pin and accompanying ceremony represented a meaningful experience for nursing students. It symbolized the completion of educational requirements that enabled nurses to sit for the state licensure examination and then practice nursing.
The College of Nursing will have its annual Pinning Ceremony for the seventy-third baccalaureate graduating class on Friday, May 5, 8:30-10 am at the Singletary Center for the Arts.
The Hooding Ceremony will immediately follow at the Singletary Center for the Arts at 10:30 am. For any questions, please contact Michael Hendrix at mwhend2@uky.edu.
