This week marked a joyful milestone for the Indiana University School of Nursing as graduates of the Class of 2025 were honored during Winter Recognition Ceremonies held in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Surrounded by proud family, friends, and faculty, future nurses celebrated the culmination of their dedication and perseverance.
On Thursday, graduates from the Indianapolis campus gathered at the Indiana Convention Center, where 128 students were awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
In her opening remarks, IU School of Nursing Dean Janet Carpenter, PhD, RN, FAAN, commended the graduates, emphasizing the bright futures awaiting them in a rapidly evolving profession.
“Graduates, throughout your education you have practiced the heart of modern nursing, using evidence to guide decisions, questioning assumptions, measuring outcomes, and learning from every experience,” Carpenter said. “You have learned to advocate with confidence, to think critically, and to connect deeply with those in your care. Because of that, you are ready to enter the profession and improve it.”
Student speaker Sam Chezem reflected on the shared journey of his classmates and thanked the mentors who helped shape their path.
“The real key to our success was our faculty,” he said. “From the classrooms to the hospitals, you are all the nurses we aspire to be. Thank you for holding us to the highest standards of excellence and ensuring we reached our full potential.”
The recognition events are rooted in IU’s traditional nursing “pinning ceremony” first held in 1948 and marks the transition from student to professional nurse. The historic nursing pin, originally featuring the IU School of Nursing seal, an open book representing education, and the inscription “School of Nursing,” has long served as a symbol of achievement, clinical excellence, and commitment to improving the health of every community the nurses will serve.
On Friday in Fort Wayne, 38 additional graduates received their BSN degrees in a ceremony filled with equal pride and celebration.
School of Nursing alumnus Jonathan Liechty Colón, director of Nursing Professional Development at Parkview Health, urged graduates to stay connected and take advantage of the powerful community they are joining.
“I encourage you to leverage our extensive and influential alumni network, which spans over 805,000 IU alumni worldwide, including more than 24,500 nursing alumni,” Colón said. “Our alumni community stands ready to support you in achieving your professional aspirations, drawing upon their own experiences to guide you along the way.”
Across both campuses, the ceremonies reflected the moment these graduates step forward with the skills and compassion to make a meaningful impact on the health of their communities.
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About IU School of Nursing
The IU School of Nursing is annually ranked among the top nursing schools in the nation. Founded in 1914, the school offers programs from the BSN through the doctorate and is composed of campuses in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis. IU School of Nursing rose to No. 13 in the nation for undergraduate nursing programs in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings—up 26 spots from the previous year.
Media Contact: Glenda Shaw | 317-278-2048 | glenshaw@iu.edu