Notre Dame College continues the tradition of celebrating its nursing students’ progression to advanced coursework.
The College’s annual Nursing Lamp Lighting Ceremony recognizes nursing majors who have reached the junior year of the academic program. During the event, each student in what will be the Notre Dame Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Class of 2023 received a lamp of knowledge, which is an international nursing symbol representative of Florence Nightingale who transformed nursing into a profession.
To formally celebrate the students’ entry into the upper division nursing program, the nursing majors officially wear their uniforms for the first time during this College and career rite of passage.
Students advancing to the next level of nursing education are: Lauren Alexander, Leah Beardslee, Madeline Cook, Madison Fraser, Nia Griffith, Blake Kalina, Gianna Kosley, Alyssa Kuntz, Mackenzie Levine, Cynthia Lewis, Kirsten Luksic, Francesca Mannarino, Deena Muntaser, Evian Norman, Hannah Smith, Kylie Snyder and Alexus Whitfield. Not all were recognized in person.
This year the observance takes place on February 14 in Regina Chapel in the Regina Complex on the College campus. All student and faculty participants wore masks and practiced social distancing as they experienced the time-honored tradition. The ceremony was video recorded to be shared with the students’ families and friends.
The lamp lighting is led by Colleen Sweeney, Ph.D., J.D., M.S.N., interim division chair, associate professor of nursing, and director of online nursing programs at Notre Dame. Notre Dame President J. Michael Pressimone, Ed.D., will share remarks.
Linda Banville, M.S.N., R.N., assistant professor and clinical coordinator, and Lynn Papesch, M.S.N., R.N., assistant professor, both from then Notre Dame Division of Nursing, present the burgeoning nurses with the lamps. Greg Knapik, Ph.D., A.N.P., assistant professor of nursing, will provide a student blessing.
Notre Dame not only celebrates its nursing family with a lamp lighting midway through the academic program but also conducts a private service at the conclusion of the nursing degree via a traditional pinning ceremony for graduating senior nurses.
The College offers accessible and affordable programs in nursing that include an on-campus traditional B.S.N. program as well as an online to R.N.-B.S.N. and on-line M.S.N. degrees. The baccalaureate degree in nursing program at Notre Dame is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
February 2022
About Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio, committed to teaching students how to make a good living and live a good life. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. For more information, visit NotreDameCollege.edu.