CSM Nursing Graduates Celebrate First Steps as Professional Nurses During Recognition Ceremony

The next generation of College of Southern Maryland (CSM) nurses received their pins during the Nursing Recognition Ceremony on May 14, welcoming graduates to the profession.

The ceremony honored 45 nursing graduates as they begin careers in healthcare. Caroline Combs, dean of the School of Health Sciences, opened the ceremony by acknowledging the graduates' difficult but rewarding journey.

“You have faced rigorous demands of nursing education with courage and perseverance,” Combs said. “Through long nights of studying, countless clinical hours, and moments of doubt and triumph, you have proven yourself worthy of the noble call to serve as nurses.”

The tradition of nursing pins dates back to the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale. She received the Royal Red Cross for her nursing care during the Crimean War, which inspired the practice of presenting a badge of excellence to graduates of the Nightingale School of Nursing. This custom evolved into pins, and by the early 1900s, pinning ceremonies were common across the United States and England.

Today, nursing pins remain a symbol of achievement and school tradition, with each nursing program having its own pin design. CSM’s nursing program started in 1979 as the Associate Degree in Nursing Program of Charles County Community College. Two years later in 1981, the first graduating class received their nursing pins, marking the start of a proud tradition.

CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson reflected on the college’s long history of preparing nurses and shared how the graduates demonstrated the focus, commitment, and resilience required to reach this milestone and join generations of healthcare heroes.

“Nursing demands a great deal from those who enter the profession,” Dr. Wilson said. “Throughout this program, you’ve demonstrated your ability to meet that challenge. Now you stand ready and prepared for the next step.”

Selected by the graduating class, this year’s theme is, “Rooted in Knowledge, Growing in Care.” It represents the roots they have established at CSM and how they will continue to develop throughout their nursing career.

Guest speakers and CSM alumnae Dr. Laura Behm and Dr. Lea Lacefield understand the profession’s commitment to lifelong learning. The two are nurse practitioners and founders of Milky Moms, a local organization providing lactation consultations and other perinatal support for mothers and infants.

They shared how, like many of the graduates, they faced hardships, setbacks, and failures, but each time they got back up, persevered, and learned something new.

“Growth rarely comes from the moments where everything feels easy,” Lacefield said. “Growth happens in the uncomfortable moments, the moments where you have to regroup, ask questions, accept feedback, and keep going.”

Behm explained that she hopes their story will show the graduates how much potential exists in nursing, and while this is one chapter coming to end, it’s just the beginning of their journey.

“Nursing is not a profession where you ever truly stop learning,” Behm said. “The knowledge you gain in school becomes your roots, but what you build from there is where the possibilities begin.”

Graduate Dylan Restrepo was selected to present the class reflections. He encouraged his classmates to be proud of how hard they worked and the challenges they overcame. These lessons can guide them through future challenges.

“Nursing isn’t just the job we do, it’s a reflection of the traits we have and the kind of people we are,” Restrepo said. “None of us could guarantee this day would come, only that we would work our absolute hardest to make it happen. Because of that, we grew into the kind of people others can trust and respect with their care. We are all united in our willingness to grow.”

After more than 30 years at CSM, nursing professor Robin Young announced her retirement and delivered the closing remarks. She encouraged graduates to continue learning throughout their careers and remember that the foundation they built at CSM will continue to guide them in the years ahead.

“What makes nursing extraordinary is how that knowledge grows into care,” Young said. “Growth is not always easy. It requires patience, humility, and a willingness to keep learning. It’s your ability to grow and care that will define the kind of nurse you become.”