State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota awarded nursing pins to 111 nursing students on May 2. The special ceremony was part of the College’s weeklong Spring 2025 commencement festivities, including graduates, families, friends, and SCF faculty and staff who joined the milestone celebrations.

The graduates earned 70 Associate in Nursing (ASN) degrees and 41 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees and are qualified to start their health care careers or continue training to become certified registered nurses.

The ceremony featured opening remarks by Tammy Sawmelle, Ph.D., SCF dean of nursing and education; guest and faculty introductions, pinning ceremony history and closing remarks by Michele Tomaino, director of ASN curriculum and instruction; an address by Victoria Guajardo, ASN student speaker; graduate name calling by Lucelly Alarcon, ASN/BSN instructor, Ginelle Stewart, clinical faculty member, and Catherine Quadir. ASN/BSN instructor; a candle lighting and a nurses’ pledge reciting by Katie Tinley, director of BSN curriculum and instruction; and scholarship award presentations by Cassandra Holmes, vice president of advancement and executive director of SCF Foundation. SCF nursing student Simon Borner received the Pat Kubler Award.

For more information about the SCF Nursing Program, visit SCF.edu. To learn more about establishing a scholarship to benefit future SCF nursing students, call Lori Stephens Tomlinson at 941-752-5108 or email [email protected]