The Canseco School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony

The Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing's Annual Pinning Ceremony took place at Texas A&M International University's Student Center for the Fine and Performing Arts on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 7:00 PM.

The Ceremony began with a processional march, with music done by Dr. Friederich C.

Gecther. As the processional march ended, Dr. Regina C. Aune, Dean of the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing and Sciences, introduced and hosted the evening as the master of ceremonies. After Dr. Aune's introduction, Dr. Pablo Arenaz, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, gave a welcome speech to the audience. Once Dr. Arenaz finished welcoming the audience, Father Richard Hall of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, gave an invocation prayer for the beginning of the ceremony and a benediction prayer was given at the end of the ceremony. Student addressers for the evening included Myriam Gonzalez and Priscilla Lujan. A faculty response was then given, followed by a presentation of awards and then a presentation of candidates.

The pinning ceremony is one of the final ceremonies held before graduation. There were a total of 42 nursing students receiving their pins with a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Nursing. Out of the 42 who received their pins and Bachelor's Degree, two of the graduates received their Bachelor's Degree in Science in Nursing and graduated as Registered Nurses. Nursing students who received their pins without being registered nurses can practice nursing for up to three months. After the three-month grace period the graduates are required to take their NCLEX examination. With the passing of the NCLEX, the nursing students will finally become full-fledged registered nurses.

Special awards were given during the event. Those who received a special award are as following: 
Lydia and Antonia Herrera—Crystal Cantu Pioneer Nursing Award

Priscilla Lujan—Dr. Susan Walker Award & Highest Grade Point Average (GPA)

Miss Laura—Teacher of the year.

The presentation of the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing pins were given out by Natalie Burkhalter and Belva Gonzalez.

The student's who received their pins include:

RN/BSN


Myriam Gonzalez

Dorothy Gray

BSN

Toyosi Adergba                                               Jonathan Martinez

Alexis Arrambidez                                           Denise Morales

Monserrat Briseno                                          Julia Miller

Maria Cantu                                                    Rosario Pacheco

Raul Casares                                                  Elizabeth Penecale

Mauricio Castellanos                                      Amy Perez

Vanessa Chapa                                              Edmundo Perez

Claudia Del Bosque                                        Rosa Reyes

Divina Dimas                                                  Ludivina Rios

Gilberto Duarte                                               Priscilla Lujan

Stacey Dunivant                                             Stephanie Rodriguez

Fernando Flores Jr.                                        Mayra Ruiz

Delta Garcia                                                    Saima Saavedra

Mayra Garcia                                                  Edith Salazar

Emma Gomez                                                            Elsa Santellano

Irma Guerra                                                    Fernando Santos

Amber Hernandez-Pedroza                            Christi Sifuentes

Damien Herrera                                              Cristina Tristan

Roland Hicks                                                  Esele Uwagwe

Alicia Jimenez                                                 Andreana Valadez

Lilliana Limas                                                  Norma Zamudio

Congratulations to the Texas A&M International University Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing class of 2011. May all that you have worked for remind you of what you are doing and why you are doing it. Good Luck!

(Mark A. Nix can be reached at mnix88@gmail.com)