Saint Francis Nursing Holds White Coat Ceremony
The Ceremony at Saint Francis University
At Saint Francis University, the Nursing White Coat Ceremony, held on Monday, September 1, represents the blending of rigorous academic preparation with our Franciscan values of service, empathy, and care for the whole person. As our students don their white coats for the first time, they are reminded of their role not only as future healthcare providers but also as compassionate caregivers who will serve patients, families, and communities with dignity and respect.
This milestone marks the transition into the clinical phase of their education. It affirms the University’s commitment to preparing students to embody excellence, integrity, and human connection in the healthcare field.
History of the White Coat Ceremony
The White Coat Ceremony originated in 1993 at Columbia University, thanks to the efforts of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. In 2014, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing collaborated to extend this tradition to nursing programs. The Foundation provides participants with pins and pledge cards, underscoring its commitment to humanism in healthcare.
The White Coat Ceremony emphasizes compassion and the human connection from the very beginning of clinical training. Today, nearly every medical school in America, more than 400 nursing schools, and many other health professions programs around the world hold this important event.
Student Honorees
The following students will be recognized and presented with their white coats during the 2025 ceremony:
- Mikayla Adams – Johnstown, PA
- Shawn Barnhart – Johnstown, PA
- Maria Bennett – Clymer, PA
- Sarah Colman – Westlake, OH
- Jordan Dean – Spraggs, PA
- Emily Diehl – Duncansville, PA
- Madison Eckley – Julian, PA
- Trevor Fahr – Cresson, PA
- Lydia Gaverick – Linden, PA
- Jamiyah Greene – Altoona, PA
- Juliana Griffiths – Carlisle, PA
- Ava Gwinn – East Freedom, PA
- Peyton Hafferty – Rector, PA
- Paige Hartline – Lilly, PA
- Jocelyn Holley – Ebensburg, PA
- Garrett Hutton – Irvona, PA
- Hailey Jeanjaquet – Johnstown, PA
- Isabella Leger – Johnstown, PA
- Brooke Maines – Hollidaysburg, PA
- Rylee Maldet – Davidsville, PA
- Mikaylah McAdoo – Duncansville, PA
- Scott Montler – Altoona, PA
- Aubrey Newhouse – Salina, PA
- Mercedez Paino – Langhorne, PA
- Julia Papcun – Portage, PA
- Zachary Persinger – Greensburg, PA
- Catherine Pivarunas – Elma, NY
- Malia Prebish – Lilly, PA
- Amelia Schultz – Altoona, PA
- Jaelyn Sipes – Altoona, PA
- Kryrsten Smithtro – Portage, PA
- Brooke Stephens – Brookville, PA
- Karli Young – Punxsutawney, PA
- Katelynn Zeth – Martinsburg, PA
- Sofia Zielinski – Phoenix, AZ
About the Nursing Program
Begin your nursing journey with an undergraduate BSN track or advance your career through a nationally accredited graduate program. At Saint Francis University, you will gain personal attention from expert faculty, hands-on training in advanced labs, and a curriculum rooted in Franciscan values of service and care for the whole person. With affordable Family Nurse Practitioner options and consistently high NCLEX-RN pass rates, SFU prepares you to lead and excel in today's healthcare field.