Congrats to the Practical Nursing grads!

About a dozen Practical Nursing students received their certificates and pins during a completion ceremony held in the Health Sciences Center auditorium on Wednesday.

"This is just the beginning of a journey that will take you to any height that you choose to go to," EVIT Superintendent Dr. Sally Downey told the completers. "Thank you for allowing us to be a small part in the phenomenal future you have ahead of you."


Guest speaker Eva Woodburn told the students that they won't be in the field for the money, but rather for the way they'll be able to touch people's lives throughout their careers.

"You are special, and you'll make the world special by being in it," said Woodburn, who is the RN Clinical Education Specialist at Banner Gateway Hospital. "You will make such an impact in every person's life that you touch."

Each student was first called up to receive their certificate of completion.


And then each student was called up for a nursing program tradition -- the pinning ceremony. During this ceremony, a relative or close friend of the graduate came to the stage to attach a pin to the graduation gown, as a symbol that their loved one is no longer a student, but is now a nurse.


The students then faced the audience to recite the Florence Nightingale Pledge.


Tassels were moved to the left side, and they had officially completed!


Congrats to all the completers! You worked hard and really earned this!

See more photos from the ceremony here.

The school year is complete

Hundreds of EVIT students descended upon the Mesa Arts Center on Tuesday; by the time they left, they had officially "completed" their EVIT education.

The students were decked out in a rainbow of different colored graduation gowns, many wearing the gowns from their home high school graduations - a tribute to a diverse student body that comes from all across the East Valley.


The annual completion ceremonies were held at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Keynote speaker and popular local radio personality Dave Pratt told students to work hard, but also to enjoy life.

"Find something you love to do, and find a way to make money at it," Pratt told the completers. "Graduating isn't enough anymore ... You have to work harder than the next person."

But he also cautioned that life is also about giving to your family and friends, and having a little fun.

"In the end, no one will remember you by the money you make or the car you drive," he said. "You will be remembered by what you give the ones you love."


EVIT students of the year Kayla Abramson and Thania Loya also spoke to the crowd, both thanking their teachers and crediting EVIT with shaping who they are today.

"The class of 2010 has brought great honor to EVIT," Thania said at the end of her speech. "We learned it; we lived it; we are EVIT."

To see more 2010 Completion Ceremony pictures, click here.