(Music Playing) Good morning.

Oh, we can do better than that.

Good morning.

Today we celebrate the academic achievements of our newest Spartan graduates.

We.

We ask that all in attendance, are respectful of today's ceremony and adhere to our university and.

And expectations.

I'm Linda Weglicki and it is my honor to serve as the interim dean of the Michigan State University College of Nursing.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the College of Nursing.

Spring 2026 commencement and Pinning Ceremony.

Would everyone please stand as you are able for The Star Spangled Banner, performed by our fantastic Lansin concert Band and soloist, Cathy.

For us.

(Singing and performance of Star-Spangled Banner) Thank you.

Please be seated.

I extend extend a special welcome to all of our outstandin graduates, our esteemed faculty and staff, to our guests today, and to all the family and friends of our graduate who are able to join us today.

Graduates, please take a moment to share your deep appreciation to your family and friends who are with us today who have supported you with love and an unending support through your courses of study as you have achieved the great successes we are celebrating today.

Graduates, please thank your family, your your family, friends and your guests today.

Today we celebrate the graduates of the traditional Bachelo of Science in Nursing program, as well as our RN to BSN program.

Each of these 99 students have successfully completed rigorous didactic and clinical coursework to meet the degree requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

They have shown great resilience and perseverance throughout their program of study, and it wasn't easy.

Student graduates, you have just completed one of the most challenging degrees in the United States and globally.

Be proud of what you have accomplished.

We're proud of you.

This celebratory milestone is an affirmatio of our traditional baccalaureate in science, nursing, o reaffirmation of our own to BSN students of their commitment to the profession of nursing, a profession consistently ranked for the past 25 years as the most trusted profession in the United States, trusted for their ethical standards, patient advocacy, and the care that they give.

I personally commend each of you for choosing nursing, a profession that touches the lives of individuals across the lifespan.

Graduates.

On behalf of the Michigan State University College of Nursing faculty and staff, I share with yo how proud the College is of you as you achieve this important milestone in your nursing education and as you enter your professional career.

We are especially proud to have you, as graduates, represent Michigan State University as Spartan nurses, you join our esteemed alumni and our proud 76 year tradition of Spartan nurses who contribute to improving health, well-being, and health care worldwide.

Graduation is such an exciting time because it marks a significant accomplishment as you enter your nursing career.

It represents an en to your first educational degree as a BSN and a new beginning.

As you enter the professional nursing workforce as graduate baccalaureate prepared nurses.

You will care for individuals and their families during some of most of life' most challenging moments, such as when having a first born baby and being a new parent.

When a person receives a life altering diagnosis, or when someone faces a sudden trauma, I am sure that many of the people here with us today celebrating you have receive compassionate care from a nurse when they have had to navigate similar vulnerable, healt related moments and experiences.

The College of Nursin is confident that our graduates are well prepared to provid compassionate and high quality care to the patients, to our their families and the communities that they will serve.

We are very proud of each of them.

We look forward to celebrating their future successes and will look to the to be the future nurse leaders.

As we celebrate the success of all of these graduates in achieving their educational goals and completing thei baccalaureate in nursing degree.

I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank our our really, really outstanding College of Nursing faculty for their excellence in leading nursing education and their compassion, passionate dedication to our students, graduates.

Please thank your faculty for their extraordinary roles that they have played in your baccalaureate education.

It also gives me great pleasure to recognize our outstanding and dedicated College of Nursing staff.

Their hard work supports our faculty and contributes to the success of our students throughout their educational journey.

They provide exceptional, dedicated service to our college community.

Many of our staff are working behind the scenes, so students faculty, please join in celebrating our staff who are with us and support our programs and our students.

It is now my honor to introduce our graduation keynote speaker.

We are so very fortunate to welcome back to the College of Nursing Cindy Monroe, a proud Michigan Stat University College of Nursing, 2002 Bachelor of Science in Nursing alumni.

After earning her nursing degree, Cindy went on to complete an MBA in Strategic Leadership from Walsh College.

She is a distinguishe Senior Executive and strategic advisor in the medtech and health care industry.

Her career spans globa organizations including Johnson and Johnson and Boston Scientific, where she has transformed change, built national partnerships and advanced patient centered innovation across health care systems.

A passionate mentor, she has created and led leadership networks, guided organizations throug major mergers and acquisitions, and earned multiple Presidents Circle honors for her excellence.

She also brings executive development experience from Harvard and Columbia.

Cindy currently resides in Arizona with her husband, Bill, and young son.

She remains deeply connected to our Spartan community, serving on the College of Nursing Alumni Board and as Vice President of Arizona's Spartans and Alumni Group that proudl raises more scholarship dollars than any other Michigan State University chapter worldwide.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Cindy Munro for her remarks today.

We are so delighted she is with us.

I also would like to extend a warm welcome to all as we celebrate this very special ceremony.

Today we gather to celebrate more than a graduation.

We honor a tradition tha represents the heart of nursing.

The penn ceremony is a moment of passage marking the transition from student to national.

From learning the science of care to living the call of service.

The pen you receive today is not just a symbol of academic achievement.

It represents the society.

The trust society places in you the responsibility you accept and the compassion you have chosen to carry forward.

It is a reminder that nursing is grounded not only in skill and knowledge, but in integrity, empathy, and the commitment to others.

My Michigan State University pen is very important to me.

It represents not only my education, but the values, pride, and responsibilities of being a nurse.

Last year at an alumni event, I unknowingly lost my pen when it was found.

Another Spartan immediately said, I know exactly who that belongs to and how much it means.

Needless to say, I got it back.

That moment reminded me that a nursing pen is more than a symbol.

It connects us to our school, our community, and our shared commitment to care for others.

As you receive your pen today, know that it represents a calling and a legacy you now carry forward.

Wear it with pride.

It matters.

And so do you.

My nursing education took a long path.

I began as an associate degree nurse working in step down in the ICU, and eventually found my way to the cardiac cath lab.

I loved the cath lab, the teamwork, the pace, and the constant learning we shared with one another.

It was there that I began to notice the medical device.

Representatives who worked very closely with our physicians, educated our team, and impacte patient care in a different way.

Watching them collaborate and teach sparked something in me, and I kne that's where I was headed next.

That realization became the push to get my BSN.

This was the late 90s.

Or as my son likes to call it, the 1900s, well before the internet and Web 2.0 ever began to boom.

While working full time as a cath lab nurse and taking calling Detroit area, I drove every Friday to an outpost in Okemos, taking up to nine credits i a day for more than two years.

And in 2002, I proudl graduated with my Michigan State University Bachelor of Nursing degree.

That achievement means so much to me because I was raised by a single parent, an assistant, and became a first generation graduate.

I will always be grateful to Michigan Stat University for the opportunity to see how much I value being a nurse.

It's so passionate, the opportunity to support and the perseverance that carried me through my journey is proo that determination, sacrifice, and belief in yourself can trul change the course of your life.

My journey wasn't linear, but every shape, every step shaped who I am as a nurse today.

Now, then and always.

I love being an identify as a nurse.

Today as you receive your pin.

I can only imagine the excitement you fee stepping into this profession.

Know this.

You will have extraordinary days and you will have very hard ones.

I encourage yo to build your support team early because no nurse walks this journey alone.

Your Pin represents the moments that will lift you forward, like the joy of a cancer patient ringing the bell.

A new life or a life saved.

These moments fuel us, and on your hardest days you will draw on them.

I remember working extra per diem shifts to pay student loans and caring for four patients in one night that passed away from breast cancer.

I remember each one and I was honored to care for them in life and in death.

As mothers, sisters, and friends, these are the moments that shaped us.

This was over 25 years ago, but I also remember preparing a patient in the cath lab and seeing a concentration camp tattoo on her arm.

I immediately put my hand over it faster and she looked at me and said, it's okay.

Well, the Holocaust happened and it's not okay.

But in that moment there was humanity, connection and shared understanding.

And to this day I can still feel her soft hands.

This is what your pin represents.

It's not just a symbol of accomplishment.

It's a promise to show up fully, to allow patients to touch your heart and honor the privilege of caring for others.

Capture these moments.

Cherish them.

Let them guide you because they are truly what defines us as nurses.

Nurse take on many shapes and sizes, and if you dream of your caree outside of the clinical space, do it.

My own career led m from nursing into medical device sales, beginning with pacemakers and later stents, where my path truly began to take shape.

I still remember standing in the basement of Hartford Hospital, reconciling product and realizing there was so much to learn outside of the clinical space.

While working at Johnson and Johnson, a company I deeply admired for living its credo putting patient first and its strong commitment to the nursing profession, I connected with the GPO team.

At the time, I didn't know what a GPO was.

This large scale, multiple health system, supply chain, but they took time to teach me.

The conversations I initiate became frequent and invaluable.

And they didn't just answer my questions, they became my mentors and mentors become advocates.

They speak your name when you're not in the room.

Open door you didn't know existed and help guide you forward.

That was the beginning of the path to led me to where I am today.

Senior leader at my beloved Johnson and Johnson.

As you receive your Pin today, remember this growth comes from curiosity and connection.

Ask questions.

Seek mentors.

Create advocates.

But your foundation is a nurse.

Putting patients first.

Leading with integrity an creating impact never changes.

Your Pin represents that foundatio wherever your journey takes you.

As a proud graduate of Michigan State University, I encourage each and every one of you to stay involved.

Giving back keeps you connected.

It keeps you connected to each other.

The College of Nursin and the generations that follow.

As stated, I currently serve as a Vice President of the Arizona Spartans, an alumni group deeply committed to supporting Michigan State.

We raise funds for the university, and this is really important.

We intentionally direct that support to areas that matter, like the College of Nursing.

On this day remember that your relationship with Michigan State does not stop here.

Join your local alumni group.

Consider serving on the College of Nursing Alumni board.

Stay engaged.

Get back when you can and help shape the future of position.

Professional.

You are so proud to enter today as you are welcomed into the legacy of nursing.

Remember this.

Your career will evolve, bu this symbol you wear represents lifelong learning, the courage to ask questions, and the responsibility to help those that come after you.

So o behalf of the Arizona Spartans, the College of Nursing Alumn Board, and all Spartan nurses, I congratulat you on earning your nursing Pin.

Today you join a proud legacy rooted in service, compassion, and excellence.

Wear your pin with pride.

Lead with heart and know you are never alone.

You are forever part of a spartan nursing family.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Cindy.

So inspiring.

So meaningful.

And so from the heart.

Thank you for being the Spartan nurse.

We are here today for your pinning ceremony.

The pinning ceremony is a time honored, deeply symbolic tradition that marks the transition from student to professional nurse.

It culminates the rigorou training and officially welcomes the graduate into the brother and sisterhood of the nursing profession.

We are proud to continue that tradition today with our spring 2026 graduates.

As we recognize each of you individually.

The Michigan State University College of Nursing Pin is unique and uniquely handcrafted.

Customized.

That represents a symbol a lifelong special connection.

As a Spartan nurse graduate.

The pins, our graduates, th pins that our graduates receive today are a generous donation from the alumni and friends of the college of Nursing who participated in the Pin Pals program.

This program supports the costs associated with the pinning of our BSN graduates, while linking donors to our newest Spartan nurses in significant ways.

Each of your pins is uniquely engraved for you.

Judy Strong, Maya Clark, and Aaron PA, faculty in the College of Nursing will have the honor of pinning each of our graduates today.

At this time with the candidates, please follow the directions of Dawn to her academic advisor.

I ask that you please be seate once you have crossed the stage and have taken your photos.

We now welcome Jessica Conner assistant Director of Advising and Enrollment, to the microphone to announce the graduates event as they walk across the stage to receive their pins.

(Conferral of degrees, pinning, and reading graduate names) Will the baccalaureate degree candidates please rise?

Have I mentioned yet how fabulous you all look?

Okay, here's the official part.

On behalf of Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz, who has delegated to me the authority of the state of Michigan vested in the Board of trustees, I confer upon each of you the degrees for which you have bee recommended with all the rights and distinctions to which they entitle you.

According to the customs, you may now move your tassels from the right side of your caps to your left.

As we celebrate you, I think before I ask you to be seated, how about a go green?

Go white.

Please be seated.

My congratulations to all of our graduates.

Today's ceremony represents a culmination of your baccalaureate educational journey and the beginning of a lifetim of professional nursing service.

It is an achievement worthy of celebration.

And we are here this mornin to celebrate with each of you.

This semester, you have completed the academic program requirements fo a challenging program of Study.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

I know for me, when I think about all the patients, the families and the loved ones that I have cared for over the years I know most don't remember me, but I know that I gave a little bit of myself to each of them and they remain in those unique nursing situations and interactions.

Each of these experiences comprise the threads that make up the tapestry of our careers and nursing.

Your future careers.

We applaud you for your hard work, for your commitment, for your passion and your dedication.

As you graduate today and build upon the knowledge and experiences of your bachelor's degree, I remind you of the words.

I'm reminded of the words of Gandhi.

Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior.

Keep your behavior positive.

Because your behaviors become your habits.

Keep your habits positive.

Because your habits become your values.

Keep your values positive.

You come because your values become your destiny.

You can be sure that the faculty in the college will follow your careers as you shape the future of nursing and health care.

We look to you to be the future leaders.

I hope you wear your Michigan State University College Pin with prid and know that you will forever be a part of the College of Nursing and Michigan State University family.

We look forward to a long and special relationship with you as alumni, as colleagues, and as lifelong learners.

Spartan nurses will.

I'm going to borrow from Governor and President Guskiewicz comments yesterday.

What does that mean?

Spartan nurses will.

It is up to each of you to have the opportunity to define that in your nursing career.

Congratulations, graduates.

We are so very proud of you.

I'd like to invite Doctor Kathleen Poindexter, interim associate dean for our BSN programs, who will now recognize the members of the graduating clas who have gone above and beyond.

Inside and outside of the classroom, doctor Poindexter.

Thank you.

Dean.

Spartan nurses demonstrate exemplary leadership in the classroo and the professional community.

And as you've seen by ou tremendous guest speaker today, this is just the beginning of a tremendous career ahead of you with infinite possibilities.

Right now, we're going to take this opportunity to recognize and honor those students who have exhibited an extraordinary commitment to service and leadership.

First, I would like to take this opportunity to hono the members of the senior class who will be commissioned a officers following graduation.

Please join me in recognizing Ella Howty who will be a commissioned officer in the United States Army.

Actually, this day, Ella, woul you please stand to be honored?

And we would like to all thank you for the service to everyone of us every semester.

We also pay tribute to graduates who completed their academic program successfully and were recognize by their peers and their faculty for exceptional academic achievements.

The selection of the Outstanding Student Award recipient is based on educational leadership, scholarship, and clinical practice.

Students are nominated by faculty and students and selected by th Undergraduate Program Committee.

We are unbelievably proud to honor Joseph Belange from the traditional BSN program as the outstanding student for this class.

Joseph, please stand.

So we congratulate you on.

This for the number of cords he's got on there.

No doubt.

Right.

Thank you.

The Spirit Award recognizes students who have inspired their classmates and fostered positive energy in the classroom.

The class of 2026 selected Heather McMenamin to receive this year's award.

Yesterday, she represented the college as the banner carrier for the university convocation ceremony.

Please join me in congratulating Heather and thanking her for her exemplary spirit.

Heather, would you please stand to be recognized?

Oh oh.

Thank you.

It's such an unbelievable hono to be recognized by your peers.

The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses is an international program recognizing nurses for their compassionate care and exceptional work.

The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Student is designed for nursing students who demonstrate a commitment to care and compassion through nurse, patient connection that makes a difference in patient's healthcare experiences.

By recognizing nursing students for the above and beyond care and compassion they have shown to patients and their families.

We celebrate what it truly means to be a nurse.

We are proud to recognize Emily Wise and Desiree Jones, who were awarded the Daisy Award for extraordinary nursing students yesterday at our center at our branch.

Emily and Desiree please stand to be recognized.

We now pay tribute to graduates who have the distinction of maintaining the highest grade point average in the class.

There may thereby merit in a 4.0 grade point average.

Wow, that's pretty tough.

To be eligible for a 4.0.

At least three fourths of the credits for the degree must be earned in residence at Michigan State University.

This honor is designated by the green, white, and gold braided cord worn with the academic robe.

This spring, 315 students across all programs at Michigan State University qualified for a 4.0 honors.

The College of Nursing is prou to have eight of those students that qualify for 4.0 with Leah Alfred, Joseph Ballenger, Catherine Flores, Owen Fowler, Jayden Demto, Alexis Karpankow, Heather McMenamin and Lindsay Nicosia.

Please rise to accept our congratulations.

Oh!

Wow.

There are many other graduates that we want to recognize today, so students please stand when appropriate.

The journey of becoming a Spartan nurs is challenging and multifaceted.

And I don't have to tell you that.

Thankfully, our students benefit from the experience and counsel of our Colleg of Nursing Student ambassadors.

Student ambassador are available to advise students on everything from elective recommendations to BSN applications, tutoring resources, internships and learning work life balance.

Student ambassadors understand the challenges of being a Spartan nursing student.

Let us show them our appreciation for their mentorship would represent a device from the College of Nursing Student Ambassador program.

Please stand and be recognized.

Students with grade point averages between 3.98 and 4.0 are awarded a University High Honor.

In addition, University Honor is awarded to students who have earned great poin averages between 3.88 and 3.98.

Gold honor cords designate both honors well all students graduating with honor and high honor.

Please stand and accept our congratulate nations.

Students who fulfil the requirements of the Honors College by completing enriched programs of study are wearing white stoles with the HC designation.

That means they achieved additional work above and beyond their expected nursing courses.

Well, all students graduating a members of the Honors College.

Please stand and be recognized.

Next, I want to acknowledge the students participating in the Access and Your Scholar programs.

These two exceptional programs operate under the umbrella of the College of Nursing.

Others are students.

Their student Success and Retention unit.

This initiative is dedicated to empowering students from diverse backgrounds fostering academic excellence, and molding individuals into competent, well-rounded, and compassionate nurse who will thrive in their careers and positively contribute to the nursing profession.

Will all students in the Access and Nurse Scholars program please stand and be recognized?

There are seen students at all levels can represent their classmate on the Student Advisory Council.

In addition, the Student Advisory Council advises our administrators and facult on curriculum and student needs.

Will the graduate who have served on the Student Advisory Counci please stand to be recognized?

And we thank you.

Students who participate in the Nursing Student Association are dedicated to ongoing professional development.

Members of this organization participate in service projects and continuous leadership training to grow as a studen and a professional in nursing.

Will members of the Nursing Student Association.

Please stand to be recognized?

And I heard you made a difference on the national level this year.

Congratulations, nurses.

You were visible.

Doctor Michael Martel, an assistant professor for College of Nursing undergraduate programs and faculty advisor for men in nursing.

Student nursing association.

We'll now recognize members of the graduating class, along with faculty advisors who participate in student engagement groups.

Thank you, Doctor Poindexter.

At this time, we want to take a moment to reflect on the values that make Michigan State University College of Nursing a place of growth, inclusive, and excellence.

Michigan State University College of Nursing is deeply committed to fostering an environment where everyone's experiences, identities, and perspectives are welcomed, respected, and celebrated.

Our commitment to inclusive excellence is evident in our student engagement groups, who play an essential rol in ensuring that our community remains one of belonging, respect and connection.

These groups not only enhance our collective culture, but also promote creativity, innovation and equity values that we as future nurses carry with us into the world.

Today, we take time to recognize three student engagement groups that have made significant contributions that increase access, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging within our community.

I ask that members and faculty advisors of these group please stand and be recognized.

Men in nursing, Student Association, Black Student Nurses Association, LGBTQ+ Allies Association.

These.

Please stand to be recognized for your.

These groups, with the guidance of their faculty advisors, embody MS College of Nursing core values by advancing inclusive excellence both within our college and in the health care field.

Their collective work ensures that we are not only developing skilled nurses, but compassionate ones who are committe to addressing health disparities and serving under-resourced communities.

Let us give another round of applause to these groups for their dedication to inclusive excellence, and for the example they set in building a more just and equitable healthcare system.

Go green.

Go white.

I had to do it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Doctor Martel.

At this time, I would like to invite and welcome Doctor Susan Buchholz, who is the associate Dean for research in the College of Nursing.

Thank you, Doctor Poindexter.

As a public researc intensive land grant university, Michigan State advances knowledge by conducting high caliber research that seeks to answer questions and create solutions to make a positive difference, locally and globally.

As such, University is considered a Carnegie foundation.

One research intensive university here at the College of Nursing.

We believe in the power of research to have a lasting effect that will enhance nursing science, strengthen nursing care practices, and improve health outcomes in our communities.

Faculty in the College of Nursing and across campus are committed to addressing today' most pressing health challenges.

We also seek to share these experiences in the classroom and through collaborative opportunities with faculty, allowing our graduates to grow as learners and critical thinkers who will help advance nursing science.

At this time, I want to acknowledge our undergraduate research assistants.

It is a pleasure to see undergraduate students taking advantage of opportunities to participate in our faculty research projects.

Students and the undergraduate research program gained valuable experience as part of a research team preparing for graduate school and inspiring them to pursue a doctorate in nursing.

Well, those who have served in undergraduate research assistant role please stand to be recognized.

Thank you to all of our graduates.

I encourage you to stay abreast of the research evidence, be engaged in researc and allow yourself to be curious as you move forward in your career.

Congratulations to all of you.

Thank you, Doctor Who folks.

As you can see by the last couple of announcements and recognitions that our Spartan nurses are already committin to the community and well beyond what's expected of them.

And we can't be more prou of everyone of you at this time.

It is my distinct honor to introduce our student speaker, Joseph Ballenger.

Joseph from Goodrich Michigan, was inspired to pursue nursing at age ten by his interaction with a compassionate emergency room nurse who cared for him when he broke his foot.

That experience shape his understanding of the impact of compassion in health care, i how it affects people's lives.

During his time in the nursing program, he served as vice president of Men in Nursing and as a Nursing Student Association Peer mentor.

He also volunteered for Spartan Days of Service, as well as various local food banks and community centers.

Joseph will begin a DMP program and others spell working as a registered nurse in a cardiovascular ICU, and plans to become a DNP prepared cardiac nurse practitioner.

Please join me in welcoming Joseph Ballenger.

Thank you very much, Doctor Poindexter.

Just to clarify, not to call you out, PhD prepared, bu thank you very much nonetheless.

All right.

Good morning.

Members of the Board of Trustees.

Dean, doctor Linda Weglicki key associate deans, members of the administration faculty and my fellow graduates.

My name is Joseph Bellinger.

Many of you know me as Joey.

I'm truly honored to be standing before you today giving this commencement speech for the spring cohort.

Class of 2026.

Before I begin, I would like to take a quick momen to applaud my fellow graduates.

I'm giving this major milestone.

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, to my mom, my dad, my stepmom, my older brothers, Jake and Josh, my grandmothers, both Cooki insider, my uncle and cousins.

And to all my family who cannot be here with me today.

Thank you for your continuous support.

Prayers, love and encouragement.

Without this, I would not have the privilege of standing before you today.

To my friends Owen, Anthony, Trent, Jacob, Sam, Brady, Grant and Cameron.

I am immensely grateful for you all.

I will never forget the days spent at our front table, the times whooping in I am gyms or the annual nursing boys golf outings.

Although that handicap rule last week was not fair.

The countless laughs, memories and tears we have all shared will forever bring me so much joy and I truly hope we remain lifelong friends.

Lastly, to the MSU faculty and supporters doctors Martel,Reeves, Rose,Maley, Deca, Varpay, Robbins and Buchholz because I am incredibly appreciative for your support and guidanc throughout this entire journey.

Now to the class of 2026.

Despite completin the same undergraduate program, I know my personal experience is distinct from yours.

However, I do believe it is undeniable that we share a significant amount of collective experiences and similarities.

Today, I'm here to share one of those experiences that I feel many of you will find relatable and memorable.

I recall stepping foot into nursing 205 at 8 a.m.

on a Monday.

I remember seeing the syllabus for the nursing school grading scale, where a 93.5 was required to 4.0, and just to pass the class was a 75, not to mention the one through 20 and one through 44 physical assessments looming in the near months.

And and exam totaling 50% of my final grade, all within the first five minutes of class.

Thank you very much.

First of all, what a start to the week that was.

But not only that, it was th very first class of our semester and of nursing school at all.

I believe I speak for the group.

I've never been more intimidated in my entire life.

For a class.

I truly want to star to nursing school in a semester.

That was.

But with all joking aside.

This class was the first sens of what it means to be a nurse.

It taught us the nursing process, how to assess critically think, advocate for our patients, and lay a foundation for our essential nursing skills.

Looking back on this memory, I am amazed a how much I have learned, grown, changed over the last course over the course of the las three years of nursing school.

And I'm certain I'm not alone.

During my time at the MSU College of Nursing, I've learned an invaluable lesson the profound importance and significance of kindness.

It may sound cliche, and yes, you may wonder, Joey, didn' you learn this at a younger age?

I did, however, my time at the MSU College of Nursing has deepened my understanding of its significance.

In the coming weeks and months, we will embark on our lifelong journey as nurses, pursuing our dreams that we have diligently worked for.

Over the course of the last four years.

However, as we step foo into this new chapter of life, I want to highlight the significance of kindness with you as a reminder of the impact we had as nurse and as people on our patients, families, friends, and even strangers daily.

Kindness may not be the most appealing, flashy or sought after thing, but it is always there when riches, appearances and status fade away.

I have seen firsthand how kindness can bring relief to a patient in their hardest moments.

Delight to the mundane an foster times of significant joy.

I honestly believe, as the saying goes, kindness does not cost anything, but its everlasting impact is priceless.

As the newest nurse from the MSU College of Nursing, I challenge you to carry with a kindness that shines through enveloping everyone you meet.

Be proud to be kind.

MSU College of Nursing has provided each of us with an extraordinary opportunity to make a substantial difference in the lives of our patients, workplaces, health care systems, and communities we will soon call home.

Embrace your knowledge from MSU and every experience that you gain from here.

Caring with that wherever you go.

But above all, remember to always prioritize kindness and never overlook its significance.

I stand before you today filled with incredible joy at everyone's remarkable accomplishments and achievements.

You all deserve the recognition and congratulations today and the many more that are yet to come your way.

Embrace this moment and congratulations my fellow Spartan nurses.

Spring Cohort class of 2026.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Joining in for.

Thank you for calling me out on that.

We'll correct that next segment.

I know Doctor Buchholz is beaming, and I should have known that from the press conference that we that I saw you at.

At this time, doctor Mary Kay Smith, past president of Alpha Side chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor society for nursing, will offer her remarks.

Thank you, Doctor Poindexter.

It is my honor as vice president of the Alpha Psi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, to congratulate yo and to welcome you into the one, one of the most influentia and purpose driven professions in the world.

Nursing.

For those of you who may not be familiar with Sigma Theta Tao, our story began in 1922, when six courageous nursin students at Indiana University set out to elevate the profession they loved and it evolved into what is now one of the largest professional organizations in the world.

The chapter at Michigan State University followed in 1969.

Today, Sigma has grown into a global community of over 100,000 nurs leaders, clinicians, educators, researchers, policymakers, innovators connected by a shared belie that Nurses United and Purpose can transform health care around the world.

This past fall, the presiden of Sigma Theta Tau International issued a bold call to action lead together and graduates.

This includes you.

When we lead together we raise our collective voice.

A voice strong enough to influence policy.

Champion equity and advocate for those whose voices are too often unheard.

When we lead together, we demonstrate our value as trusted experts compassionate leaders, creative problem solvers and innovators, shaping the future of care.

And when we lead together, we unleash our impact improving outcomes, strengthening communities, and building healthier futures across the globe.

The profession you are enterin needs courageous nurse leaders.

More than ever, you will face challenges constrained resources, growing inequities, chronic illness, the aging population, the migration of the global workforce.

The list goes on.

But every one of these challenges is also an invitation.

An invitation to rise, to reimagine, to lead in way that honor your authentic self.

This is your moment.

This is your time to influence a futur that looks different from today.

And you are ready.

You are Spartan nurses and Spartan nurses liv with heart, courage and honor.

Membership in the Alpha Psi chapter is open to baccalaureat and graduate nursing students, as well as community leader who meet eligibility criteria.

If you are graduating today and are not yet a member, I encourage you to connect with Alpha Psi or another chapter wherever your journey may take you.

Sigma is more than an honor.

It is a community that elevate your leadership for a lifetime.

Before I close, I would like to recognize our 25, 2025 and 202 Sigma Theta Theta Tau inductees.

If you would please stand.

These new members are proudly wearing purple and white honor cords today.

I would also like to invite all current Alpha Psi members and members from other chapters to stand and be recognized.

For the awesome collection of leaders graduates.

Congratulations once again.

We cannot wait to witnes the impact of your leadership, the future of nursing this bright because it now includes you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Doctor Smith.

At this time, I would like to invite, Doctor Marci McDowell, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, who will offer remarks from the College of Nursing Alumni Association.

Good morning.

I would like to welcome, family and friends as I'm here today on behal of the Michigan State University community, including the college of Nursing Alumni Board, which I serve as a past president to us, are to offer our sinceres congratulations on this amazing achievement.

To our newest graduates, over 8600 have come before you to welcome you to the Spartan nursing family and I would like to take this moment to acknowledge other Spartan nurses who are present today.

So if you're an alumnus of th college, what you guys now are, could you please stand to be recognized?

Who?

Thank you.

You may be seated.

Today.

You shine.

You have within yo the best preparation, knowledge and compassion for the patients within you.

We know this to be true because you've done all we've required of you.

Those many exams, that one through 40, the clinical hour with the clinical tracking tool and the final summative simulations and the clinical judgment model and much more.

You have studied hard and proven your ability to be a professional nurse which makes MSU so very proud.

You've also been gifted with a legacy of excellence from the college, on that you will now carry forth, spreading the wisdom and care for all you will serve.

So what is a legacy?

A legacy is a gift, one that is given to us by those who came before and established the path we now follow.

They include my fellow board members, the faculty and staff who wor within this caring environment.

Your family and your friends.

Who knew you could do this?

Their support has been invaluable and today they also shine with you.

We do as you stay too connected to home.

Let us know where you are and what you're doing.

Come visit and attend college alumni events.

We'd love to see you share your stories, your successes, and even your challenges as you move forward in your career.

Believe me, will be right here waiting to hear from you.

You've made it a great feeling.

I know.

Congratulations and keep shining.

And don't forget to take us with you.

Thank you.

Thank you, doctor McDowell.

And we mean, please keep us up to date on what you're doing and stay connected.

As I start my closing remarks.

Just want to remind us that nurses serve on the front lines of health care and comprise the largest professional among the health care team workforce.

As graduate nurses, you join the 5.2 million nurses in the United State who make a difference every day.

Our Spartan nurse graduates have the reputation of being well educated and prepared to practice, and to make an impact in the places that they work, and with the patients an communities that they care for.

We are confident that the spring class of 2026, all of you will continue this legacy and this reputation.

On behalf of the College of Nursing faculty and staff and alumni.

Congratulations to our graduates.

To your friends to your families and loved ones who celebrate thi accomplishment with you today.

As Spartan nurses we know that you will represent the College of Nursing and the nursing profession with high integrity and compassion as you provide exemplary health care.

As we close our ceremony today, please join me in thanking this incredible Lansing Concert Band and Cathy for us for leading us in our music today.

I would now ask that our graduates, guests and faculty and staff to please stand as you can and join in singing the first stanza of the Michigan State University's alma mater.

MSU shadows followed by the MSU fight song.

Following that.

That will conclude today's ceremony.

Once again graduates to all of our BSN graduates.

Today, we are so very proud of you.

Go green.

Go white.

(Singing and performance of MSU Alma Mater) (MSU Fight Song performance)