On Friday, December 19, 2025, at 4 PM in the Memorial Union Ballroom in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the University of North Dakota (UND) College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines will celebrate its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pinning ceremony. This time-honored tradition marks the transition of 55 new graduates into the nursing profession, symbolizing their readiness to address pressing healthcare demands amid a national nursing shortage.

Ceremony Highlights and Key Speakers

The event features a structured program blending tradition and inspiration. It opens with a processional and the UND Land Acknowledgement Statement read by Chantel Vazquez, BSN, RN, RAIN Nurse Mentor. Tracy Bergum, BSEd, serves as Master of Ceremonies, followed by a welcome from Dean Maridee Shogren, DNP, CNM, CLC.

The keynote address by Mallory Kostelecky, BSN, RN, Travel ER Nurse and Medical Service Officer, will underscore the dynamic challenges of modern nursing. Pins will be presented by Dean Shogren, announced by Caroline Bodine, a Semester 3 nursing student and Nursing Student Council President, with closing remarks from Stephanie Christian, PhD, RN, Undergraduate Nursing Chair.

The Enduring Symbolism of the UND Nursing Pin

Rooted in 1951, when UND's first nursing class designed the pin, this gold emblem with a green Maltese Cross draws from the Knights of Malta's legacy of caring for the sick. Green honors UND's colors, evolving from "School of Nursing" to "College of Nursing" in 1959, then "College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines" in 2012, and "UND Nursing" in 2014 to reflect departmental expansions including social work and nutrition.

The pin's history mirrors nursing's professionalization, now more vital as BSN-prepared nurses lead in evidence-based care, reducing patient mortality by up to 6% per studies on nurse education levels.

Class of 2025: Pioneers Amid Nursing Trends

These 55 graduates—ranging from Reece Anderson to Katie Young—embody resilience in a field facing burnout and shortages, with U.S. projections needing 200,000 new RNs annually through 2030. Their pinning signifies commitment to health equity and innovation, like telehealth and pandemic response.

• 55 BSN recipients, bolstering North Dakota's rural healthcare
• Training emphasizes holistic care, aligning with rising demand for culturally competent providers
• Graduates poised for roles in ERs, community health, and beyond

As healthcare evolves with aging populations and chronic diseases, events like this reinforce nursing's cultural cornerstone, ensuring a robust pipeline for safer, more compassionate patient outcomes.