UBCNews - Business - Healthcare Pinning Ceremony: What It Means For Newman's Newest Graduates

Episode Date: December 11, 2025

So, imagine you're sitting in a packed auditorium, families leaning forward in their seats, cameras ready. And then, one by one, graduates cross the stage to receive a small pin. It might seem like just a piece of metal, but for nursing and respiratory care students, that pin represents years of hard work, countless clinical hours, and a huge transition. Today, we're talking about pinning ceremonies and what they mean for new healthcare professionals. Newman University City: Wichita Address: 3100 McCormick Website: https://newmanu.edu/

So imagine you're sitting in a packed auditorium, families leaning forward in their seats, cameras ready. And then, one by one, graduates cross the stage to receive a small pin. It might seem like just a piece of metal, but for nursing and respiratory care students, that pin represents years of hard work, countless clinical hours, and a huge transition. Today we're talking about pinning ceremonies and what they mean for new health care professionals. Right, and I think a lot of people outside health care. don't realize how meaningful these ceremonies are. On December 5th, 2025, 19 graduates from the School of Healthcare Professions

participated in this tradition. Eight earned their Associate of Science in Respiratory Care and 11 earned their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It's a moment where you're no longer a student. You're stepping into your profession. Exactly. And each program has its own unique pin with specific symbolism. The respiratory care pin actually depicts human lungs, showing the segmental bronchi and lung segments.

It's a reminder that these graduates are highly specialized clinicians who focus on pulmonary disorders. Yeah, and the nursing pin has its own history. It was designed by the first graduating nursing class and features a cross, symbolizing Christian heritage, and a lamp that represents the light of knowledge, a nod to Florence Nightingale, who founded modern nursing. I love that each pin tells a story. So let's talk about some of the standout graduates from this ceremony. There were several awards given out, right? Definitely.

The Outstanding Respiratory Care Graduate Award actually ended up in a three-way tie this year. Jessica Leibst, Haven Shogran, and Brittany Friend all received the honor, which is selected based on academic excellence, professionalism, and clinical competency. Wow, a three-way tie. That must have been unexpected. And Jessica's story is particularly powerful, isn't it? It really is. Her daughter was born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome and also had breathing issues.

A respiratory therapist actually saved her daughter's life when she got RSV a couple years ago. That experience inspired Jessica to enter the field herself. That's incredible. Turning a moment of crisis into a calling. What about the nursing side? Katie Metzger won the Distinguished Bachelor of Science in Nursing. graduate award. She exemplified leadership and service throughout her time in the program. What's remarkable is that she was her grandmother's full-time caregiver for three years while

going through nursing school and participating on the cheer and dance teams. Wait, she did all that at once? That's some serious time management. I can barely manage my inbox and a podcast schedule. Yeah, and she still found time to volunteer with the ICT Street team, providing healthcare services to people experiencing homelessness in Wichita. She also served as secretary for the Nursing Student Council Board and was a peer tutor. I actually remember when I was in school, I had a classmate who juggled similar responsibilities, and it gave me so much respect for people who can balance caregiving with their studies. That point about balancing caregiving really sets up our next piece. The career paths these graduates are heading into, but first a quick word

from our sponsor. If you're thinking about a career in health care, finding the right program matters. Newman University's School of Healthcare Professions offers programs in nursing and respiratory care with a strong foundation in the liberal arts and a commitment to serving the underserved. With experienced faculty and clinical training designed to prepare you for real-world challenges, graduates are ready to make a difference in their communities. Learn more at NewmanU. EDU. Picking up on that caregiving thread, where are these new graduates actually heading? What's next for them? Most of them have already accepted positions at hospitals in the Wichita region.

Jessica Leibst and Brittany Friend are both starting at Ascension Via Christie in January. Haven Chagrin accepted a job at Wesley Medical Center. And Katie Metzker will be working in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit at Ascension via Christi St. Francis. So they're staying local and serving their own community. What drew Katie to cardiothoracic intensive care specifically? She did her capstone there and really appreciated seeing patients come in very sick after surgeries, then actually watching them recover and improve. In a lot of health care settings, you don't always get to see that positive outcome,

so that was meaningful for her. Mm-hmm, I understand. Now, the ceremony also featured a keynote speaker. Tell us about that. Charity Clark, who's the chief operating officer of McPherson Center for Health, gave the keynote. She's also the president of the Kansas Respiratory Care Society and has extensive experience in health care leadership. Her message to the graduates was really about the light they bring to health care, the hope and reassurance they represent. The light they bring?

Yes, she told them, this light that's burning in you is hope. It's the reassurance in the patient's eyes when you walk in the room. the calm you'll bring to moments of crisis, the knowledge and compassion guiding your hands and your heart. She wanted them to remember that despite the long days and heavy challenges, their light matters. That light, that sense of purpose, matters to every patient they'll serve.

That's beautiful. And probably something they'll need to remember on the tough days. What about career specializations? What options do these graduates have moving forward? For respiratory care graduates, they can work in various settings. Intensive care units, emergency departments, neonatal care, or even pulmonary rehab programs. The field is growing steadily with projected employment increases over the coming years, so they're strong demand. And they're prepared to earn professional credentials, right?

Exactly. Graduates meet the requirements to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care Examinations, earning the certified respiratory therapist credential signals to employers, colleagues, and patients a commitment to excellence in respiratory care. It measures the essential knowledge and skills required at entry into practice. So to everyone listening who might be considering health care, have you ever wondered what it takes to make that leap from student to professional? I think these professions go way beyond clinical skills. The ceremony emphasizes the transition from student to professional, but also the responsibility that comes with it. You're stepping into a role

where you'll impact people during their most vulnerable moments. And that's what the pin symbolizes, that commitment, that responsibility. Dean Tim Cho mentioned he's proud they could provide the support students needed, and he's excited for communities to benefit from their skill and dedication. Right, and I think that dual focus supporting students while they're learning, then sending them out to serve, that's what makes these programs successful. These graduates are going to be the ones showing up in emergency rooms, ICU's, helping patients breathe, helping families cope. Right. Exactly. What do you think keeps them showing up like that day after day, especially when outcomes are uncertain? It takes resilience, for sure, but I think it also takes that sense of purpose

Charity Clark talked about. When you remember why you started, whether it's a personal story like Jessica's or a desire to serve like Katie demonstrated, that purpose keeps you grounded. Well said. And as these 19 graduates move forward, they're carrying more than a pin. They're bringing years of education, hands-on training, and a commitment to making a real difference in health care. Thanks for breaking this all down with us today. Thanks for having me. It's an exciting time for these new professionals. Thank you.