MOOREFIELD, W.Va. – Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College hosted its 2026 nursing pinning ceremony at Moorefield High School on Friday, May 8. Held bi-annually the evening before commencement, the ceremony celebrated students’ completion of the two-year registered nursing program.
Alicia VanMeter, MSN, FNP-BC, Eastern’s nursing program director, welcomed friends and family to the event. Keira Ridgeway performed the national anthem and Alec Kidwell gave the invocation.
Thomas Striplin, Ed.D., president of Eastern, addressed the graduates on the importance of patient care.
“I’ve been in healthcare for over 40 years, and one word stands out: care,” Striplin said. “I’m going to ask you to do a few things every day for the rest of your journey. First, always introduce yourself to the patient. Second, let them know why you are there and what you are doing. Third, say hello to the family; put a smile on their face and your own. Even when you are having your worst day at work, the patients in the hospital are having a much more difficult day.”
Representatives of 40 & 8 Hardy County Voiture 1623, longtime partners of the college and the nursing program through the 40 & 8 scholarship spoke to the history of the organization and provided encouraging words to the graduates. They provided the cohort with pins from their organization.
Student speaker Madison Miller, a 2026 RN graduate, delivered an emotional speech thanking family, friends, and faculty.
“In such a short time, you became so much more than instructors; you became my mentors,” Miller said. She then led the graduates in the Nightingale Pledge.
Keynote speaker Crystal Goodwater, RN, a 2024 Eastern nursing cohort graduate, urged the cohort to savor the milestone.
“The pin you are about to receive may be very small, but what it represents is immeasurable,” Goodwater said. “It reflects years of sacrifice, resilience, and perseverance. It is more than a symbol; it is a calling. In many ways, it is your superhero badge. Nursing is not simply a career that you choose; it is a calling you feel in your soul.”
In total, 22 students received their pins and caps: Tara Aylor, April Blackburn, Jennell Borror, Lillian Callaway, Avery Colebank, ShyAnna Feagans, Brittany Goldizen, Jasmine Hall, Chloe Herron, Samantha Long, Treavor Mayle, Madison Miller, Nikole Miller, Caleb Nelson, Charlotte Ockerman, Shana Price, Rachael Anne Spencer, Cheryl Lynn Sanders, Missy Simon, Joelle Strietbeck, Maria VanMeter, and Marissa Ward.
A recording of the ceremony is available on Eastern’s Facebook page.
About Eastern’s Nursing Program The nursing program at Eastern dates back to 2006. After initially operating as a division of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Eastern adopted the curriculum and earned independent accreditation from the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. The two-year RN program is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). For more information, visit https://easternwv.edu/academics/nursing-program/.