Anne Arundel Community College celebrated its newest class of nurses during a pinning ceremony Dec. 12, marking the completion of their academic journey and entry into the nursing profession.
“When you place this pin on your uniform, let it be a reminder of your strength, your compassion and your purpose,” Stacey Hittle, Ed.D., MSN, RN, CCRN, assistant dean of Nursing, said during the ceremony. “Let it remind you of the responsibility you now hold to listen deeply, to advocate fiercely, to lead with integrity and to care for each person with the dignity they deserve.”
The event also recognized the second cohort of 10 graduates from the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC). The partnership between AACC and UM BWMC was created to help address the growing demand for nurses in the region.
The opportunity to participate in the partnership was open to all UM BWMC employees for this cohort. LPN student speakers Mia Gomez and Jasmine Henry, formerly in transport services and radiology technology, have both transitioned into nursing careers.
“The biggest lesson I learned wasn't clinical at all. It was the simple, profound realization that if you put time and effort in, there truly aren't any limitations to your success,” Gomez said. "Now let us take that commitment, that time and that effort and pour it into caring for the people who need it most.”
These graduates will carry both their personal achievements as well as the strength of a program recognized for excellence into their future careers. The associate degree program is ranked the best in Northeast region in 2025 by nursingprocess.org based on academic quality, NCLEX-RN pass rates, the nursing school’s reputation and affordability. The program’s success is measured not only in rankings, but in the graduates whose determination brought them to this moment.
“Today is one of those rare moments in life where everything feels like it's finally slowing down,” said RN student speaker Gabriella Wegner. “We get to celebrate not just the end of a program, but the strength, sacrifice and resilience that carried us to this very moment.”