POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Nursing graduates at Three Rivers Community College continued in the tradition of Florence Nightingale at the annual Nursing Pinning Ceremony. The poignant ceremony was held as a prelude to Three Rivers' commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 22.

The ceremony, which is celebrated by nursing graduates throughout the world, is considered to be a rite of passage into the nursing profession. The first ceremony took place at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing in London in the 1860s. In keeping with tradition, the Three Rivers graduates received a nursing pin, recited a historic pledge, and each lit their own Nightingale Lamp.

Because of her selfless duty during the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale became known as the "lady with the lamp." As a tribute to her dedication, the lamp icon became symbolic of nursing. The lamp shines as a symbol of the care and devotion to the sick and injured in the practice of nursing. The Three Rivers nursing students honor Nightingale's dedication and pledge to carry the ideals for which she stood during the pinning and lamp lighting ceremony.

Graduating from the Associate Degree in Nursing Day program based on the Three Rivers campus in Poplar Bluff were: Christina Aubuchon, Poplar Bluff; Tammy Ballard, Corning, Ark.; Lyrra Barriner, Poplar Bluff; Sara Brown, Poplar Bluff; Christen Callaway, Ellington; LaTasha Casteel, Poplar Bluff; Constance Clark, Poplar Bluff; Lora Clark, Poplar Bluff; Mary Clubb, Greenville; Dawn Cochran, Poplar Bluff; Melissa Ganime, Greenville; Shanda Grider, Poplar Bluff; Michael Hawks, Doniphan; Erica Hobbs, Poplar Bluff; Heather Hughes, Poplar Bluff; Stephanie Loewen, Grandin; April Meador, Poplar Bluff; Shelley Mitchell, Ellsinore; Andrea Pierce, Poplar Bluff; Charles Ray, Poplar Bluff; Melanie Smith, Poplar Bluff; Daphne Umfleet, Dexter; JeriAnn Williams, Wappapello; Tina Wilson, Poplar Bluff; Marquishia Winters-Hargraves, Poplar Bluff.

Graduating from the LPN to RN Bridge program at the Three Rivers Center in Sikeston were: Robin Allen, Portageville; Laura Baker, Ellington; Brandi Beck, Sikeston; Norma Burrus, Caruthersville; Tabitha Cox, Cape Girardeau; Lori Daniels, Dexter; Molly Daughhtee, Morehouse; Tammie Fuller, Holcomb; Machelle Grant, Charleston; Michelle Hall, East Prairie; Viki Hall, New Madrid; Angela Jones, Sikeston; Tara Jones, Cape Girardeau; Amy Kembel, Marble Hill; Sarah Kinney, Oran; Karla Laws, Dexter; Rebecca Marron, Benton; Britni Massey, Oran; Rebecca McGarity, Sikeston; Edward Miller, Jackson; Melissa Mock, Marble Hill; Harold Stacy Jr., Poplar Bluff; Billie Woods, Sikeston.