UNT Health College of Nursing celebrates inaugural BSN class at first pinning ceremony
Inaugural BSN graduates celebrate their completion of the program.
Twenty-nine graduates marked a historic milestone for UNT Health Fort Worth on Saturday, Aug. 15, as the College of Nursing held its first nursing pinning ceremony.
Surrounded by family, friends, faculty and university leaders, members of the inaugural Bachelor of Science in Nursing class received their nursing pins and recited the Nightingale Pledge, affirming their commitment to compassionate, ethical and evidence-based patient care.
“You are setting the standard for all who follow you,” said Dr. Cindy Weston, founding dean of the College of Nursing. “It’s your dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence that brought you to this very moment today.”
The ceremony represented both a personal achievement for the graduates and a milestone for the college, which was established in 2023 to help address the critical nursing shortage in Texas. The undergraduate nursing program received approval from the Texas Board of Nursing to begin nine months ahead of schedule.
“Today is a historic moment, not only for each of our graduates, but also for the UNT Health College of Nursing,” UNT Health President Dr. Kirk Calhoun said. “As we celebrate the accomplishments of our inaugural BSN graduates, we also celebrate the remarkable journey of a college that was built with a vision to address the critical nursing shortage in Texas and prepare the next generation of health care leaders.”
Among those receiving pins was Moyinoluwa Akindele, whose path to nursing was shaped
by watching her sisters manage autoimmune disorders and by six years of service in
the Army Reserve. Akindele hopes to work in intensive care before pursuing flight
nursing and becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist. 
“I want to be a nurse that is competent,” Akindele said in a previous interview. “I want to advocate for my patients. I want them to leave the hospital understanding what brought them there and what they can do to get better.”
Also celebrating together were siblings Alberthy and Estrella Carretero, who supported
one another throughout the program while following distinct paths to nursing. Estrella
hopes to improve care for Spanish-speaking patients, while Alberthy’s decision to
pursue nursing was influenced by the loss of their older sister. Both have accepted
nurse residency positions at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
The ceremony also recognized 27 graduates with honors designations. Kayleigh Van Slyke received the College of Nursing Academic Achievement Award; Sophia Jones received the Clinical Practice Award; Dazziana Puga received the Community Service Award; and Zainab Odunewu received the Research Award.
As the graduates begin their careers, UNT Health Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Chris Ray encouraged them to continue learning, embrace innovation and use their voices to advocate for patients and strengthen health care systems.
“Your success strengthens the mission of UNT Health and demonstrates the impact of nursing education on the future of health care,” Ray said. “We look forward to seeing the lives you will touch, the communities you will serve and the difference you will make as professional nurses.”