Students today, alumni tomorrow, nurses forever
A pinning ceremony is a traditional part of many nursing institutions’ graduating events. The pinning formalizes the transition from student to professional nurse. The tradition itself has roots back to the 12th century but is more typically associated with Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing, who presented medals of excellence to exemplary nursing graduates at her London school.
By the early 20th century, it became standard in North America to award all nursing graduates a pin to celebrate their successes as students and their futures in the profession.

Photo by Adrian Shellard
Congratulations UCalgary Nursing Class of 2021

Class of 2021 Nursing Pins
Due to the increasing instances of COVID-19 in Alberta and those on the UCalgary campus, we've cancelled our 2021 in-person nursing pin distribution. All pins will be mailed.

Please email us if you have any questions at nconnect@ucalgary.ca
2021
In 2021, June convocation was held virtually and November convocation was in-person but we continued to suspend the in-person Pinning Ceremony.
2020
In 2020, we went virtual for both June and November convocation and there was no Pinning Ceremony. See all the stories and digital yearbook and video messages below.