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FAIRMONT - Pierpont Community & Technical College celebrated a milestone Aug. 8 as 42 graduates, the largest Licensed Practical Nursing class in the college's history, were recognized during the 2026 Licensed Practical Nursing Pinning Ceremony at East Fairmont High School Auditorium. The ceremony honored the graduates' successful completion of the program and welcomed them into one of the nation's most trusted professions.
More than a graduation milestone, the pinning ceremony marked the transition from student to nurse, recognizing a journey defined by perseverance, sacrifice, growth and the support of family, friends and classmates. The tradition symbolizes a commitment to compassionate patient care and the responsibilities that come with serving others during some of life's most vulnerable moments.
Serving as master of ceremonies, Dr. Megan Miller, Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Bridge to RN Program, welcomed graduates into the nursing profession and reflected on the dedication, resilience and compassion required to earn the nursing pin.
Pierpont President Dr. Michael Waide then reflected on the perseverance that defined the graduates' journey, recognizing the sacrifices, obstacles and determination that brought them to this milestone.
"Today is certainly about completing a program of study, but it is also about something much deeper," Waide said. "It is about welcoming you into a profession. The pin you receive is not simply a symbol of academic achievement. It represents trust. It represents responsibility. It represents compassion. It represents the privilege of caring for another human being during some of the most significant and vulnerable moments of life."
Waide acknowledged the many challenges graduates overcame while earning their credentials, including demanding coursework, clinical experiences, employment and family responsibilities.
"Some of you wondered whether you could continue. Some of you experienced disappointment. Some of you experienced loss. Yet here you are," he said. "That is perseverance. Persistence is not the absence of obstacles. Persistence is choosing to continue despite them."
A recurring theme throughout the ceremony was the importance of community and mutual support, a message echoed by student speaker Elliott Allende, Class President and President of Pierpont's Student Nurse Association.
Speaking on the theme, "The Journey Together," Allende reflected on the shared experience that united the class throughout the program.
"When we first entered this program, many of us came with uncertainty," Allende said. "Some of us wondered if we were capable. Others questioned whether we truly belonged. But step by step, exam by exam and clinical by clinical, we grew, not just as students, but as future nurses."
Allende said the bonds formed among classmates became one of the defining aspects of their experience.
"We learned how to assess, to calculate, to intervene, to advocate and to care," he said. "But more importantly, we learned how to show up for our patients and for each other. In moments when one of us felt overwhelmed, someone else stepped in with encouragement. That is what made this journey possible, not just individual determination, but collective strength."
Jennifer Reed, Acting Director of the Licensed Practical Nursing Program, challenged graduates to carry that same spirit of advocacy into their nursing careers.
"There will be moments when your patients cannot speak for themselves," Reed said. "In those moments, your voice becomes theirs. Your voice has the power to comfort, educate, protect and, at times, save lives."
Faculty speaker Miki DeMary-Andrew reflected on the many milestones graduates have already achieved and encouraged them to embrace the "firsts" that await them as new nurses, from their first patients to the experiences that will shape their professional growth.
The ceremony also featured the traditional lighting of the lamp and recitation of the Florence Nightingale Pledge. Dr. Joanne Seasholtz, a member of the Pierpont Board of Governors and a nurse, reminded graduates that nursing is both a profession and a calling.
"Nursing is more than a career," Seasholtz said. "You are stepping into a profession that will challenge you, shape you and inspire you in ways you may not yet imagine. From your very first shift, you will have the opportunity to make a difference."
Closing the ceremony, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs David Beighley reflected on the significance of the day's traditions and the responsibility graduates now carry as members of the nursing profession.
"The traditions you participated in today are not merely ceremonial," Beighley said. "They signify your entry into one of the most trusted and respected professions in the world. Wear your pin with pride, but also with humility. It represents competence, compassion and service, and beginning today, it represents you."
As graduates received their nursing pins, they joined a tradition dating back more than a century while beginning careers that will impact patients, families and communities across West Virginia and beyond. Together, the 42 members of the Class of 2026 represent the largest practical nursing cohort ever pinned by Pierpont, underscoring the college's commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce throughout the region.