Georgia Southwestern ASN students honored at Nursing Pinning Ceremony

AMERICUS, Ga. (August 7, 2025) — Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) honored 45 Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) students during a Pinning Ceremony held Wednesday, July 29, in the Storm Dome.

Courtney Ross, DHA, dean of GSW’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, welcomed the audience with a message of pride and purpose.

“Tonight, we gather to celebrate a tradition rich in pride, meaning and heartfelt significance,” Ross said. “These 45 extraordinary students will be pinned, each one taking a transformative step into the noble and demanding profession of nursing. The pin you will receive is far more than a piece of jewelry. It symbolizes your resilience, growth and readiness to serve. You have mastered the science, refined your clinical skills and shown compassion to those in need.”

Several ASN students were recognized with special awards:

Angi Jones of Cordele, Ga. received the Outstanding Academic Award from GSW's Iota Iota Chapter of the Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society. This award goes to the ASN student with the highest grade point average calculated at midterm of their final semester.

Veronica Simms of Cataula, Ga. received the Leadership Award from GSW's Iota Iota Chapter of the Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society. This award is voted on by ASN faculty. Simms was recognized as "an absolute shining ray of sunshine that exudes compassion and has displayed leadership qualities throughout the program." 

Sebastian Garzon of Peachtree City, Ga. received the Beacon in the Storm Award. This award is voted on by Faculty and honors a student who serves as a guiding light in the ever-changing landscape of nursing school. The recipient exemplifies mentorship, advocacy, and innovation, leading with integrity, compassion, and vision. Like a beacon in the storm, they illuminate the path forward for others, even in the darkest of times.

Kate Cromer of Macon, Ga. was named the Outstanding ASN Student at GSW's Student Recognition Ceremony back in the Spring but was recognized at the Pinning Ceremony. This award is given to the senior student who has demonstrated overall clinical, academic, and professional excellence.

The second ASN cohort chose Natasha Snider, lecturer of Nursing, to deliver The Last Lecture.

“You are joining the ranks of extraordinary nurses—trailblazers who have come before us like Florence Nightingale, Mary Eliza Mahoney, Clara Barton and our very own Colonel Ramona Mulleins-Foreman. These women served with unwavering compassion, often without the tools, time or recognition they deserved. They answered the call not because it was easy, but because they were called. And now, that same calling lives within each of you—a legacy of strength, healing, advocacy and grace. You were not the first, but you are the next, and you, in turn, will soon become the shoulders that future nurses will stand on.”

GSW’s two-year fully accredited ASN program provides students with a direct and efficient pathway into the nursing profession, allowing them to become registered nurses (RNs) and enter the workforce sooner. Graduates from GSW’s ASN program will be eligible to apply to GSW’s #3 ranked RN-BSN program in Georgia.

GSW offers several nursing pathways, including the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), online RN-BSN, and online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs. The university graduates just over 100 nurses each year, yet the demand for qualified nurses at both the associate and bachelor’s levels continues to grow.

Visit gsw.edu/ASN to learn more about the ASN degree and other GSW nursing programs.