Beckley, WV (WOAY) – Valley College’s 2026 nursing graduates were pinned into the profession Friday evening during a ceremony held at Woodrow Wilson High School auditorium in Beckley.
The pinning ceremony, a tradition rooted in the legacy of Florence Nightingale, marks a nurse’s official entry into the field and is considered a milestone distinct from standard graduation.
The new class of nurses is expected to fill positions across southern West Virginia, including in rural communities throughout the region.
Graduates will next take on the NCLEX, the national nursing licensing exam, before beginning practice. Several members of the class say they already have positions lined up and are set to begin their careers in the coming weeks.
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