Pinning marks milestone for 36 GSN Graduate Entry Pathway students

Thirty-six women and men marked an educational and professional milestone at their Graduate Entry Pathway Pinning Ceremony held at UMass Medical School on Monday, Sept. 17. The members of the Graduate Entry Pathway Class of 2021, all of whom have undergraduate degrees in fields other than nursing, took an oath to practice their profession of nursing faithfully. They received pins symbolizing their entry into the profession.

The annual celebration is a tradition that marks the students’ completion of educational credentials necessary for qualification as registered nurses and the beginning of continued study toward Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees that will qualify them to become nurse practitioners. For GEP students in particular, the pinning marks the completion of the program’s first year of intensely accelerated study.

Beverly Alomepe graduated from Dartmouth College in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in studio art and a concentration in health sciences.

“UMass Medical School’s Graduate School of Nursing is one of the few graduate advanced practice nursing institutions in the United States that has an interdisciplinary approach to educating nurse practitioners,” Alomepe noted. “I have always been an artist and probably always will be. I see this pinning, and ultimately this foray into nursing, as a continuation of a creative tradition through which we will all practice the art of nursing.”

Upon completion of their Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, each student will sit for licensure as a family nurse practitioner; adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner; or adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, depending on their goals.

“The Graduate School of Nursing has afforded me myriad opportunities to help fulfill my professional aspirations to work with older adults to empower them in health, independence and dignity,” said Jaya Rawla, already working as a certified nursing assistant since earning a bachelor’s in biology and history at Smith College. “The pinning ceremony signifies not only all that I have been able to accomplish during my past year at the Graduate School of Nursing, but also the adventures that lay ahead of me.”

A military veteran and attorney with a predilection for adventure sports like sky diving and rock climbing, Eric Neal lauded the learning environment and strength of the program.

“After several years in commercial law, I wanted to transition into a role that would have a more positive impact on my community,” said Neal, who plans to become an acute care nurse practitioner. “I chose the Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Medical School for several reasons and I couldn’t be happier!”

Neal was honored to be elected class speaker.

Awards were presented to Emily Hudson for Academic Excellence; Mable Su Mason for Clinical Excellence; Jaya Rawla for Spirit of Nursing; and Brittany Carney for Community Engagement, followed by the ceremony in which students received their pins from Graduate School of Nursing Dean Joan Vitello, PhD.

The formal program concluded with the class reciting the Graduate Entry Pathway pledge in unison, followed by a celebration with family, friends and faculty.