The Armstrong McDonald School of Nursing (AMSON) held its 17th Annual Pinning and Blessing Ceremony on Friday, May 8. This year there were 22 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates.

The Armstrong McDonald School of Nursing (AMSON) held its 17th Annual Pinning and Blessing Ceremony on Friday, May 8, at 4 p.m. in Williams Memorial Chapel at College of the Ozarks. This year there were 22 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates.

Class of 2026 graduates, nursing faculty, family members, and guests of the graduates attended the event. A reception for the graduates and their families was held afterwards.

This year’s guest speaker was Dr. Laura Rodseth, DNP, MBA, BSN, RN. She is a dedicated nurse leader, educator, and woman of faith with nearly four decades of experience serving patients and mentoring future nurses. Rodseth currently serves as a clinical adjunct for our program, where she is passionate about equipping the next generation of nurses to care for others with both clinical excellence and Christ-centered purpose.

Mrs. Rebecca Hamon, nursing program director, expressed the purpose of the Pinning and Blessing Ceremony.

“The purpose of the Pinning and Blessing Ceremony is to celebrate the nursing graduates’ accomplishments and commission them for future service to the nursing profession,” Hamon said. “The ceremony signifies the completion of a rigorous education process and dedication to service. The faculty and staff, along with our community, offer our sincere congratulations for the perseverance and compassionate work of this graduating class who finished their degree. The nursing graduates are inheriting and contributing to a legacy of excellence.”

At the ceremony, all the nursing graduates received a specifically designed pin that reflects the program’s five main pursuits of truth, character, critical thinking, the tenets of Florence Nightingale, and creating a nourishing environment.

“The nursing pin reflects the AMSON’s mission and philosophy, which is a direct reflection of the College’s mission and goals,” Hamon said. “The pin communicates the wearer’s transition from student to earned title of professional nurse and provides a tangible link to the source of their education. It has been a significant symbol of our service as nurses to others for over 1,000 years.”

With the graduating class of 2026, 309 graduates have completed the AMSON program. The program has been ranked among Missouri’s top colleges since 2020.