One by one, 41 University of Southern Maine nursing graduates stepped onto the stage in Hannaford Lecture Hall on Friday, Dec. 19, each accompanied by those who helped them reach this milestone. Parents, siblings, spouses, mentors and friends stood alongside their graduates – placing academic hoods over master’s students and draping ribbons bearing silver nursing pins around bachelor’s students’ necks. These symbols represent years of study, the demands of clinical rotations and an enduring commitment to care and heal. The pinning and hooding ceremonies, traditions with roots stretching back centuries in nursing, marked the students’ symbolic passage from learner to professional caregiver.
During the ceremony, 33 students received bachelor’s degrees and 8 received master’s degrees through USM’s online program. The ceremony included remarks from nursing faculty and congratulatory addresses from university leaders, including President Jacqueline Edmondson, Provost Adam Tuchinsky and Dean Christine Maher. Emotion, pride and excitement filled the hall as these new nurses marked the close of one chapter and the beginning of another.
While the whole cohort was celebrated, the stories behind each pin brought the event to life. Phoebe Sykes, one of the two class marshals, was pinned by her parents Faith and Mike Sykes. Following in her grandmother’s footsteps, Sykes said she also found her calling in nursing, citing one specific interaction with a patient during clinicals.
“They said, ‘Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for staying in here. I know people are busy, but sometimes just talking about what I had for breakfast means the world,'” Sykes recalled.
A strong mental health advocate who has accepted a position in neurotrauma at Maine Medical Center, Sykes plans to gain more work experience before pursuing her nurse practitioner degree – likely at USM.
“I want to advocate for people around me – especially those that may not be able to do it for themselves,” she said. “I want to meet people where they’re at.”
The pinning ceremony is a long-standing rite of passage for nursing students receiving their bachelor’s degree, marking the transition from student to professional nurse. Inspired by Florence Nightingale, who began the tradition of honoring her students with badges, the ceremony symbolizes more than academic achievement.
The pins, placed on the graduates by their loved ones, represent not only years of rigorous training and dedication to compassionate care, but also the enduring guidance and support of those who have helped carry them to this moment.
Pinned by her mother and sister, Grace Atere said, “It’s the part of the ceremony that feels most meaningful to me.”
Encouraged by her mom and a fundamental desire to help people, Atere began exploring what a future in nursing might look like after graduating high school. As she gained experience, she was drawn to the meaningful connections and profound impact nurses can have on patients’ lives – moments that reminded her, “nursing isn’t just a career – it’s a calling.”
“My time at USM has truly confirmed that this is where I belong,” Atere said. “The supportive learning environment and, especially, my clinical experiences have been the most meaningful part of my journey.”
Atere is preparing to begin her nursing career at Johns Hopkins in Maryland as a registered nurse in the Cardiovascular Progressive Care Unit.
“For my patients and community, I hope to be a nurse who treats each person as a whole – not just addressing their illness, but acknowledging them personally, culturally, mentally, and physically,” said Atere. “I want my patients to feel seen, valued, and cared for with compassion and empathy.”
Michelle Lauture’s path to the pinning ceremony was unlike most. After 18 years as a social worker, she enrolled in USM’s accelerated nursing program in January 2024 to pursue a lifelong dream. A month later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. When chemotherapy forced her to pause her studies over the summer, faculty urged her back for the fall semester – even though she’d be completing radiation treatments while taking classes.
“If I stayed home, I would have been way sicker,” Lauture said. Her classmates became an unexpected source of strength. “Even though they’re so young, they’re so smart. Their spirit helped drive me – I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”
Now in remission, Lauture was pinned by her daughter Simone – a USM nursing graduate whom Lauture herself had pinned two years earlier.
“It’s kind of full circle now,” she said.
Brandon Blount, the Administrative Specialist for the School of Nursing said this cohort stands out for its resilience and adaptability.
“Many balanced demanding clinical schedules, work, and personal responsibilities at the same time,” he said. “I observed strong peer support, a willingness to step up for one another, and a deep commitment to compassionate patient care.”
The ceremony included a particularly emotional moment with the presentation of the Jane Philbrick Goldsworth Award for Excellence in Nursing. The $5,000 prize, presented by Nancy Philbrick on behalf of her late sister’s family, recognizes a graduating senior who demonstrates exceptional dedication, professionalism and compassion in clinical practice.
A Maine native, Jane Philbrick Goldsworth devoted more than 40 years to nursing, including 35 years in emergency care.
“The most important thing, no matter what her title was, she always believed herself to be a leader, a mentor and an educator,” Nancy Philbrick told attendees. “Patients were always her first priority.”
This year’s recipient, Ange Uwera Ndayisabye, will bring her talents to the emergency department at Maine Medical Center. The moment brought tears of joy to Ndayisabye, her classmates and even President Edmondson.
“I find this to be such an incredibly special ceremony, and it’s so difficult to get through it without crying,” Edmondson said. “Today was no exception.”
The ceremony celebrated both the emotions of the moment and the bright futures ahead. Many of the December graduates have already secured positions – a testament to both the strength of USM’s nursing education and the high demand for skilled nurses.
“Employers recognize the solid clinical preparation, critical thinking, and professionalism these students bring,” Blount said. “It also shows that graduates are ready to step into practice and make an impact right away.”
