Pinning & Recognition Ceremony – Spring 2024

  • WHEN:
    Friday, May 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
    Doors open at 9:00 a.m.; graduates report to Fackler Foyer West by 9:15 a.m.; all others are seated by 9:45 a.m.; processional at 10:00 a.m.
  • WHERE:
    Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
    3201 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL (on the campus of the University of Florida)
  • ACTIONS FOR BSN GRADUATES:
    1. PIN ORDER SYSTEM HAS NOW CLOSED – The deadline to order was noon on February 8 (EST). An email with detailed instructions was sent directly to the graduates.
    2. RSVP online – Submit your RSVP now for the Pinning & Recognition Ceremony and the Pomp & Circumstance Celebration (one form). Deadline is March 15, 2024.
  • HOW DO ALL OF THESE CEREMONIES AND CELEBRATIONS RELATE TO EACH OTHER:
    1. COLLEGE CEREMONY – The Pinning & Recognition Ceremony is a ceremony welcoming grads to the profession of Nursing, specifically for Nursing undergraduates to mark their transition into the Nursing profession, hosted by the College of Nursing, and sponsored by the UF College of Nursing Alumni Council. It is NOT the Commencement (aka – Graduation) Ceremony. Students will each have their names called and walk across the stage to be pinned by members of our Alumni Council. Business professional attire is expected. White coats are preferred, but not required. Academic regalia is not suitable.
      • COLLEGE CELEBRATIONThe College of Nursing will also host a Pomp & Circumstance Celebration in the same location, immediately following the Pinning & Recognition Ceremony. This Celebration is an opportunity for families to see the soon-to-be-graduates cross the stage in their regalia (which is required to participate in this celebration). This is also NOT the Commencement (aka – Graduation) Ceremony.
    2. UNIVERSITY CEREMONY (this is the ONLY Graduation ceremony) – The Commencement Ceremony is THE GRADUATION CEREMONY for all University of Florida undergraduates, hosted by the Office of the President. It is the graduation ceremony, where a nationally recognized speaker participates, academic regalia is required and a degree is conferred by the UF President.

History

The concept of the nursing pin dates back to the Crusades when the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem displayed the Maltese Cross on their uniforms. Following the Crusades, some of the Crusaders noted the excellent nursing care provided by the Hospital of Saint John and decided to join the nursing group. Over the centuries, various schools and craft guilds adopted symbols to use on buttons, badges or shields to represent their training, wisdom, strength, courage and faith.

In 1880, Florence Nightingale chose the Maltese cross as the badge to be worn by the graduates of her first school of nursing. As the profession of nursing developed, each school chose a unique pin to be awarded to students completing their programs. The pin then became a public symbol of excellence worn on nurses’ uniforms. Often, the pins first were put on at a “pinning” ceremony during graduation activities.

Graduates continue to purchase their colleges’ pins to wear after graduation. The unique pin provides an outstanding way to display pride in achievements and easily identifies each nurse’s alma mater to others.

Frequently Asked Questions

BSN Graduate Candidate Check-In

Participating candidates MUST REPORT to Fackler Foyer West, located in the west wing of the Curtis M. Phillips, M.D. Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) no later than 9:15 a.m. on May 3. All personal items (including phone, purse, etc.) should be left with your guest(s) prior to reporting to Fackler Foyer West, or you will not be permitted to pick up your pin. You will pick up your pin during the check-in process in Fackler Foyer West, prior to the Pinning & Recognition Ceremony on May 3.

Pin Card

Guest Information

Tickets are NOT needed for admission. Guests MUST be seated in the CPA Auditorium no later than 9:45 a.m. At the conclusion of ceremony, grads will recess all of the way out of the building. Please arrange a “meeting spot” with graduate/guests prior to the ceremony, as graduates will not be permitted to carry a cell phone with them during the ceremony. The venue is ADA accessible. At this time, we do NOT anticipate using tickets for admission.

Pinning Guest Pic

Attire – Pinning & Recognition Ceremony

Pinning & Recognition CeremonyProfessional business attire is expected to participate in this ceremony, which marks a milestone in the transition to your professional career. You are encouraged to also wear your white coat, but it is optional. RN to BSN graduates who do not have a white coat may contact Lyndsay Ulmer at Lyndsay8@ufl.edu details on how to order by February 29, may also use a white coat you already own, or may decide to not wear one (as they are optional). Academic regalia is not suitable for this ceremony.

Ladies: Please note that you are being pinned so should you choose to wear a dress with thin straps, pair it with a cardigan or cover-up (or white coat) so that there is sufficient material to affix the pin. Also, remember that you will be walking up steps and across an elevated stage, so please wear shoes with a professional heel height and skirts/dresses of appropriate length.

PinningCeremony

Attire – Pomp & Circumstance Celebration

Regalia is REQUIRED to participate in the Pomp & Circumstance Celebration. Graduates are responsible for ordering regalia using instructions and deadlines communicated by the University of Florida Director of Commencements (versus the College of Nursing). Further event day instructions will be e-mailed directly to each graduate who has RSVP’d with plans to participate in this Celebration.

Herff Jones is the official vendor to order your cap & gown for UF’s commencement ceremonies. Order deadline is March 22nd. Orders placed before the deadline will be delivered directly to the shipping address provided on the order.

Please note, the college is not associated with coordination of regalia and cannot assist with regalia orders, these must be managed through  the link below. Contact cap-gown@ufl.edu with any regalia questions.

POMP

Parking

Participating graduates and their guests may park in the SURFACE LOT & parking garage at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts located off Hull Road (near the intersection of SW 34th Street and Hull Road). Decal restrictions are lifted on the day of the event. Gated, ADA spots or spots reserved for a specific individual tag are still enforced.

PARKING

For questions regarding the Pinning Ceremony, please contact:

Yancy J Lawrence
Department: College of Nursing Dean’s Office

Yancy J Lawrence

Development & Alumni Affairs Coordinator
Phone: (352) 273-6571