When Maressa McNeill thinks back on the last 15 months, she’s amazed by everything she managed to accomplish.
She completed the University of Florida College of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, all while commuting between Orlando and Gainesville, raising her young daughter and balancing her responsibilities as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.
“It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it,” McNeill said moments before the start of the Summer Pinning Ceremony on Aug. 1 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
McNeill was one of 185 graduates recognized during the ceremony, which celebrated students completing the college’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
This year’s celebration marked a new chapter in nursing education, as the first cohort of students experienced the College of Nursing’s Clinical Reimagined Immersion Model© (CRIM). Through this innovative approach, students engage in immersive, mentor-led clinical experiences that strengthen clinical judgment, build confidence and prepare them to deliver exceptional patient care from day one.
For McNeill, nursing wasn’t always part of the plan. She earned a degree in communications in 2009 and worked as a teacher. But after years of hearing her brother talk about his experiences as a nurse, she began to see it as a future for herself.
“After years of listening to my brother talk about nursing and seeing the impact he was making, I realized there might be a place for me in this profession,” she said.
Throughout the program, she leaned on the people who inspired her most.
“My daughter is a big motivation for me,” McNeill said. “She pushes me to keep reaching for goals I haven’t accomplished yet.”
Her next goal is already in sight.
“I’d like to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist,” she said. “I’m excited to keep learning and continue my education.”
For fellow graduate Alexandra “Alex” Wooten, who was the Gainesville Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Representative, becoming a nurse fulfilled a dream more than a decade in the making.
“It’s been the culmination of a dream I’ve had for a long time,” Wooten said. “Being here and finally seeing it come to fruition is pretty amazing.”
Before entering nursing school, Wooten earned a degree in psychology and worked as a birth and postpartum doula, helping families navigate one of life’s most meaningful moments. Those experiences inspired her to pursue nursing.
“Supporting families as a birth and postpartum doula gave me a heart for caring for people during such an important time in their lives,” she said. “I saw how important nurses are in the birth and postpartum setting, and I wanted to be that nurse who could make such a difference for families.”
Although she knew nursing was her calling, Wooten intentionally waited until the time was right to return to school.
“I wanted to be there for my children while they were little,” she said. “Once they were all in school and a little more independent, I knew it was time to pursue this dream.”
She said there was only one place she wanted to earn her nursing degree.
“UF was my dream program,” Wooten said. “I knew the College of Nursing was respected not only in Florida but across the country, so getting accepted was incredibly exciting.”
Shakira Henderson, dean of the College of Nursing, Associate Vice President for Nursing Education, Practice, and Research – System Chief Nurse Executive, UF Health, told graduates that while each arrived with a unique story, they now share a common purpose.
“Today marks the beginning of a career dedicated to serving others,” Henderson said. “Your time at the University of Florida has prepared you with the knowledge, clinical skills and compassion to make a meaningful difference in the lives of your patients and communities. We are incredibly proud to welcome you into the Gator Nursing family of alumni.”
As the newest generation of Gator Nurses accepted their pins, the ceremony celebrated more than the completion of a rigorous academic program. It honored the perseverance, sacrifice and determination that brought each graduate to this milestone and the countless lives they will impact in the years ahead.
More Pinning photos: Summer 2026 ABSN Pinning
