Ninety-five students in the Advanced Practice Nursing Class of 2027 traded in their scrubs for white coats on Monday during the Pinning and White Coat Recognition Ceremony in 1CW. The Direct Entry Nursing (DEN) and Post-BSN students received their white coats to mark the beginning of the advanced clinical training and leadership development as future nurse practitioners. The DEN students also celebrated the completion of the generalist portion of their education by receiving their nursing pins as a symbol of their dedication, accomplishments, and ethical commitments to the individuals, families, and communities they will serve. 

Class speaker Christa Guerrier shared the significance of the uniform change. 

“As we trade in our teal scrubs for our white coats, let’s take a moment to recognize what that truly means,” shared Guerrier. “Those teal scrubs carried our beginnings: the nerves, the mistakes, the growth, and the friendships that got us here. Our white coats now carry our future: the trust of our patients, the weight of responsibility, and the promise to lead with our hearts.

“The color may have changed, but the spirit underneath has not. We are still those same students who showed up, who cared deeply, and who refused to give up. Only now, we do it with more confidence, more knowledge, and a new symbol of the profession we have worked so hard to join.”

In addition, four students took home awards during the ceremony. The Adele Corkum Award, for a student who demonstrates outstanding compassion and caring toward classmates, patients, and families, went to Swapna Bobbity. The Mary Flannery Caira Award acknowledges dedication to professional nursing and was given to Claire Trustey. The Ruth Sleeper Award honors Ruth Sleeper, a distinguished nurse leader and is given to a student who exemplifies excellence in nursing theory and practice. It was given to Cilene Da Silva. The Stephanie Macaluso’88 Leadership Award, which recognizes a student who exemplifies leadership, creativity, and outstanding skill in clinical care, especially in the use of technology in healthcare, went to Emily Schewe.