The UTMB School of Nursing held its commencement ceremony on April 25, at Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston.

The ceremony recognized the school’s more than 500 graduates in the last year, including those who will complete degree requirements in August. Of these, 111 have earned an advanced degree, including the inaugural class of Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates and nine who will graduate in May with a Ph.D. from the UTMB Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

“The School of Nursing has a storied history, and commencement reflects our commitment to the mission of educating the best nurses for Texas, the nation and the world,” said Dean Pamela G. Watson.

The commencement address was given by Karyn Holt, who is an associate clinical professor and director of Online Quality at Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions in Philadelphia, Pa. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife and has practiced worldwide in that specialty when she served in the military. Holt has received distinguished national awards for her programs and serves on national and international journal review boards. Her research areas of interest revolve around women’s health issues, intimate partner violence, disaster management and online learning.

The Euphemia Jane Ritchie RN Excellence in Nursing Award, given to the most outstanding student in the senior nursing class, was presented to Katherin Janae Page.

Earlier in the day, the graduates participated in a pinning ceremony. The nursing pin symbolizes the allegiance and pride the students have in their school.

This was the 127th class to receive their nursing education at UTMB, established in 1890 as the first nursing school in Texas and the oldest nursing school in the Southwest.