Nursing Students Recognized With Pinning Ceremony

Edison State Community College honored 35 recent nursing graduates on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, with a pinning ceremony held in a gymnasium filled with family and friends.

The pinning ceremony is a time-honored tradition in which the College presents graduate nurses to family and friends as professionals about to practice nursing. Faculty members who have worked with students throughout their studies have the honor of pinning the graduates. Each school has a unique pin, which serves as a symbol of the successful completion of a rigorous curriculum that prepares graduates to administer to the sick and injured and to promote health through the practice of nursing.

Guest speaker Alys Fleckenstein began her nursing career after graduating from Edison State in 2000, launching a professional journey grounded in compassion, adaptability, and a commitment to patient-centered care. Her nomination as an Ohio Health Care Worker of the Year highlights her commitment to excellence and service.

Today, Fleckenstein serves as the Senior Director of Nursing and Respiratory at Wilson Health, where she leads with a strong commitment to her staff through an open-door policy and a caring, approachable leadership style. She is deeply dedicated to mentoring and growing nurses, fostering an environment where team members feel supported, heard, and empowered.

Fleckenstein continues to strengthen health care delivery within the community while inspiring the next generation of nurses. She also currently serves on The Edison Foundation Board.

“Today is a moment you will carry with you for the rest of your lives,” Fleckenstein told graduates. “The nursing pin you receive is more than a symbol of completing a program; it represents your commitment to a profession that will ask a lot of you but will also give you purpose, connection, and meaning in return. Each of you has put in the long hours, the early mornings, the late-night studying, and the emotional energy it takes to get here. You’ve earned this moment.”

She continued, “One of the greatest privileges in my career has been the opportunity to watch nursing students learn, graduate, and grow into compassionate nurses and future leaders. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing someone gain confidence, find their voice, and realize the impact they can have. Each of you has that same potential; not only to care for patients, but to influence the people around you and help shape the future of this profession.”

Fleckenstein encouraged graduates to be proud of themselves. “You have chosen a profession that is demanding but deeply meaningful. You will be there for people on some of the hardest days of their lives, and that is an incredible responsibility and privilege. Congratulations, nurses. Your journey is just beginning, and the impact you will make is greater than you can imagine.”

Following the successful completion of the nursing program, graduates will prepare to take the National Council Licensure Examination to become registered nurses.

During the ceremony, Edison State also announced its first honorees for The DAISY Award®. The College recognized Marci Langenkamp with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators and Mersedes Beasley with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students. The award recognizes the faculty who inspire compassionate care in their students and the students who demonstrate it during their education.

Edison State’s nursing program has maintained full accreditation and approval throughout its history. In 2023, the Ohio Board of Nursing granted Edison State’s Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing a full five-year approval. In 2019, the program earned an eight-year continued accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the highest level a program can receive. Edison State received approval from the Higher Learning Commission in 2024 to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, allowing registered nurses to pursue further education at the College.

Edison State’s Registered Nursing program will accept applications from June 15 to July 31, 2026, for the spring 2027 semester. Learn more about Edison State’s nursing programs at www.edisonohio.edu/health.