(Danville) — It was a busy weekend at Averett University.
It began Friday when their School of Nursing held its annual nurse pinning ceremony. This honored students who completed their Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees this spring.
The nurse pinning ceremony includes many symbols like nursing caps and pins, lamps and anointing oil.
More than 30 nursing students graduated, including 17 traditional BSN graduates and 16 ABSN graduates who studied at Averett’s School of Nursing’s ABSN Norfolk Learning Center.
On Saturday, those students joined with their classmates in the annual Spring Convocation at Averett’s North Campus.
210 graduates got their bachelor’s or master’s degrees spanning offerings from traditional and online programs. The graduates ranged in age from 19 to 66. It included 15 veterans and 19 international students from 11 countries including Argentina, The Bahamas, Belgium, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Graduates from August 2023, December 2023 and May 2024 were eligible to participate. It added up to a total of 341 Averett degrees conferred over the course of this academic year.
Where the faculty sit Saturday, there were two open seats representing faculty members who passed away this year. Barbara Kushubar served Averett for 36 years. She passed away five weeks ago. The other open seat was in memory of Dr. David Hanbury, who died in February. Both were to be the mace bearers at Saturday’s ceremony as the 2023 Faculty Members of the Year. English Professor Dr. Marc Muneal carried the mace in their honor.
Introducing the commencement speaker whose “aspirations had him aiming for the stars, literally,” and “whose leadership has taken us to the farthest reaches of the universe,” Averett President Dr. Tiffany Franks welcomed Dr. Gregory Robinson, a retired NASA pioneer and Averett alumnus.
Robinson, who earned a Master of Science degree in business administration from Averett in 1993, is best known as the turnaround leader of the James Webb Space Telescope. He is credited with transforming a program that was billions over budget and years behind schedule into one of NASA’s greatest achievements.
“I never thought in a million years that I would lead such a high-profile, global program as Webb,” Robinson told the graduates. “However, my education and career experiences had adequately prepared me. You will ask yourselves many times, ‘Why me?’ but I can assure you, you are well prepared.”
Also speaking Saturday was Senior Class President Talia Prosper. She is the first student to address their peers during Averett’s commencement exercises.
“Class of 2024…be sure to embrace every moment of today. For many of us, this is our very first time walking across a graduation stage that isn’t virtual. When your name is called, walk across the stage with confidence. Own it, completely.”