Three Tifton Students Pin as Practical Nurses

Southern Regional Technical College held a practical nursing pinning ceremony in Moultrie on July 28 for graduates from its Tifton and Thomasville cohorts, the college said. The ceremony marked the students’ completion of nursing coursework and clinical rotations and made them eligible to participate in commencement at SRTC-Bainbridge on July 29. Southern Regional listed nine graduates in the Tifton cohort, not three, in its account of the event. ### Which Tifton students were part of the pinning ceremony? Southern Regional Technical College named Walker Altman, Maurisha Baisden, Katlyn Bateman, Naomi Gomez, Ruby Hernandez, Shandalria McTear, Amy Miller, Jealousy Peterson and Shanyia Smith as graduates representing the Tifton cohort. The college’s published list is the clearest verified roster tied to the July 28 ceremony. (southernregional.edu) The Tifton Gazette’s Aug. 5 item described the ceremony as recognition for practical nursing students and said it took place in Moultrie on July 28. That local report aligns with Southern Regional’s account of the date, location and program. ### What did the ceremony mark for the students? Southern Regional Technical College said the pinning ceremony commemorated the students’ successful completion of nursing coursework and clinical rotations. (southernregional.edu) The college said the graduates were also eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony at SRTC-Bainbridge on July 29, 2026. (tiftongazette.com) The college described the event as a rite of passage into the nursing profession. Each student received a pin and a small lamp during the ceremony, according to the school’s account. ### What did faculty say about this class? Alisha Nugent, SRTC-Tifton practical nursing instructor, said she was “incredibly proud” to see the cohort reach its goal of becoming practical nurses. (southernregional.edu) Nugent said each graduate had “something meaningful to offer the nursing profession” and said she looked forward to the impact they would have on patients and communities they serve. Amy Braswell, SRTC-Thomasville practical nursing instructor, said the graduates entered the program “with a dream” and left with the knowledge, strength and compassion to make a difference. Braswell congratulated the “SRTC PN Graduates of 2026” and told them to “Keep growing.” ### Why do nursing students receive a pin and lamp? (southernregional.edu) Southern Regional Technical College said the pin is meant to remind students of their purpose to serve sick and infirm patients. The lamp portion of the ceremony is a tribute to Florence Nightingale, whom the college described as the founder of modern nursing. The college said Nightingale was known in the 1800s as the “lady with the lamp” because she tended to sick patients while carrying a lamp. (southernregional.edu) That explanation was included as part of the school’s description of the ceremony’s symbolism. ### What comes next for these graduates? Southern Regional Technical College said the practical nursing graduates were eligible to take part in commencement at SRTC-Bainbridge on July 29, one day after the pinning ceremony. (southernregional.edu) The college also said fall semester begins Aug. 18 for prospective students seeking program information or registration details. Southern Regional’s published roster and local newspaper versions of the announcement provide the names tied to the July 28 event. For the Tifton cohort, the next verified milestone after the Moultrie ceremony was the July 29 commencement eligibility the college listed in its release. (southernregional.edu)