Nurse Pinning Ceremony Honors Second Largest Class of Nursing Grads

Tulsa Community College celebrated its Spring 2025 Nursing graduates with a pinning ceremony, recognizing the second largest graduating class in the program’s history. Among them was Robin Faulkner, who returned to college in her 50s and inspired her daughter to enroll in the Nursing program.

Tulsa Community College honored 116 Spring 2025 Nursing graduates, its second largest class ever, during a formal pinning ceremony in May. Held at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education on TCC’s Southeast Campus, the event celebrated the completion of the students’ academic training and their entry into the nursing profession. Faculty, family, and friends gathered to recognize the hard work and dedication of the newest class of nursing professionals.

The nurse pinning ceremony is a long-standing tradition at the College that symbolizes the transition from student to professional nurse. Each graduate received a TCC Nursing pin, presented by faculty, to mark the occasion. This semester, 116 students completed TCC’s Nursing program.

“This pinning ceremony is a meaningful milestone that represents the graduates’ academic achievement and their commitment to patient care,” says Jenny Fields, DNP, Dean of the School of Health Sciences. “We’re incredibly proud of these students and confident in the impact they will have in our communities as skilled, compassionate nurses.”

Among the graduates was Robin Faulkner, who returned to college in her 50s to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.

“I have an English degree, but I’ve always been interested in science and the medical field. A close friend went through TCC’s Nursing program and said I’d learn everything I need to at an affordable rate,” says Robin. “So, I took her advice.”

Robin received her pin while her daughter, Caroline Faulkner, watched from the audience. Caroline says watching her mother cross the stage was emotional and inspiring.

“I was bawling my eyes out,” she says. “I’m not usually that emotional, but it was such a proud moment. She’s always been my hero.”

The ceremony held special meaning for the Faulkners, as both mother and daughter were enrolled in TCC’s Nursing program during the Spring semester. While Robin was completing her last semester in the program, Caroline was beginning her first.

Caroline initially attended the University of Central Oklahoma on an athletic scholarship and earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies. She returned to Tulsa to pursue Nursing at TCC, inspired by her mother’s experience in the program.

“She was hyping up the program, and I saw what she was experiencing and the knowledge she was getting,” says Caroline. “She really sold me on it.”

While Robin attended classes at Metro Campus and Caroline at Southeast Campus, they made a habit of studying together at home.

“Before I even started, she sat down with me to share tips, helped me build a calendar, and walked me through what to expect,” says Caroline. “When I had my first exam, she studied with me every day that week.”

“We were learning together. We've been able to kind of talk shop along the way,” Robin says.

Robin is set to begin her nursing career in the emergency room at Ascension St. John, while Caroline continues at TCC, working toward a pin of her own.