LIHU‘E — For 17 of the commencement graduates at Kaua‘i Community College, the pinning ceremony on Saturday at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center marked their entry into the world of nursing as they accepted their respective pins one by one.
Maureen Tabura, the Kaua‘i Community College Nursing coordinator, said graduates of the two-year program would not have been possible without the help of scholarship donors, including the EZ and Pauline Street Scholarsip, the Mokihana Club Kaua‘i Scholarship, the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu Scholarship, Good Jobs Hawai‘i and UH Common Scholarship.
“A lot of these students would not be able to make it without this help,” Tabura said.
The Mokihana Club is hosting a wine, cheese and chocolate event on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. as a fundraiser for its KCC Nursing scholarships.
Helping with the reception, the first year students as a halfway milestone, got a preview of what takes place during the pinning ceremony.
Tabura said the pinning ceremony dates back to the 12th century when knights were acknowledged with a special medal for taking care of others.
Florence Nightingale, considered by many as the founder of modern nursing, was the recipient of one of these awards and felt really good about receiving it to start the pinning tradition.
Tabura said the original graduating nurses received not only the pin, but the nurses cap that uniquely demonstrated the school they graduated from. Since then, the caps have disappeared, but the pins are still unique with each presenting school having its own design and saying.
Tabura said of the 17 new registered nurses, there are still tests to accomplish for the next several weeks. Of the 17, at least 12 will be pursuing their bachelor’s degree, most of them working through the University Center. The remainder will be entering the workforce.
The 17 new nurses are Tiana Albarado, Kyler Arruda-Sukehira, Khaya Bunao, Jessica Burke, Allison Cadiz, Joelie Claro, Angelica Cudiamat, Fritz Aldrey Custodio, Tai Keani Higashi, Tori Malia Higashi, Dutchess Kapuamae‘ole Kaneakua, Bree Wehiwehiokealiiokalanikamamalu Martin, Azea Vasquez Minia, Jelacia Naomi Peralta, Kimberly Ramos, Jazlyn Akina Swartz, Sierra Trinidad.
