Iona University Pinning Ceremony Marks Start of Next Chapter For New Nurses
Bronxville, N.Y. (December 2023) – Students in Iona University’s baccalaureate, accelerated second-degree nursing program celebrated taking the next steps into their new careers during the Nursing Pinning Ceremony on Friday, December 15.
Reflecting on her experience in the nursing program, Teena Thomas ’23 said it is one she will always cherish, adding that the friendships she made along the way will last a lifetime.
“This experience has been extremely transformative and enriching. As I look back on my time in this program, I am filled with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for the experiences I've had and the knowledge I've gained,” said Thomas. “The support and expertise of the nursing staff at Iona has allowed me to succeed and has provided me with what feels like a solid foundation in nursing practice, encouraging me to think critically and with therapeutic techniques.”
A longstanding tradition, the Nursing Pinning Ceremony signifies entry into the profession for new nursing graduates and is a time-honored rite of passage.
Each institution’s nursing pin is designed to reflect the values and ethos of the program. As such, Iona’s pin consists of a Celtic Knot Cross, reflecting the legacy of faith, service and deep spiritual compassion that is at the core of an Iona education.
The event took place in the Sommer Center for Performing Arts on Iona’s new campus in Bronxville, N.Y., home of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences.
Iona’s accelerated second-degree program in nursing is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, but are looking to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in an accelerated format of 16-months, with hands-on clinical by week 6. Learn more about Iona’s baccalaureate, accelerated second-degree program here.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.