Gateway Community College (GCC) celebrated the Class of 2016's Allied Health majors at the Annual Pinning Ceremony on May 24. The ceremony marks the transition from student to professional for 70 students who have completed their studies in one of 12 Allied Health options.


GCC’s Allied Health Programs offer associate degrees and certificates for some of the most rapidly advancing careers in modern medicine. They include four specialties in Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy — Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Radiation Therapy and Radiography — three specialties in Nutrition and Fitness — Nutrition and Dietetics, Exercise Science and Wellness, and Fitness Specialist Studies - as well as programs for Pre-Dental Hygiene and Pre-Allied Health.

A time-honored tradition, pinning ceremonies trace their origins to nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, who received the Cross of St. George from Britain’s Queen Victoria in 1855 for her service in caring for injured British soldiers. When schools were later founded using Nightingale’s principles and practices, the awarding of pins and medals to outstanding graduates became increasingly common until it was eventually established as a rite of passage from student to practitioner.