Before pledging to devote themselves to the welfare of those committed in their care, 28 Tech graduates received their nursing pins during the spring pinning ceremony. Among those 28 that were pinned, eight received awards for excellence: Outstanding Student Award: Christie Ouchley, of Ruston Faculty Award: Autumn Newman, of West Monroe Academic Excellence Award: Cherish Roberts, of Monroe Clinical Award: Courtney Gregory, of Ruston; Travis Myers, of Minden; and Haley O’Neal, of Ruston Student Nurse Association Award: Abigail Bowman, of Simsboro Ruston District Nurses Award: Abigail Bowman and Katarina Beaudion, of Ruston Other students pinned were as follows, listed by their hometown: Barksdale Air Force Base: Sara Lay Bossier City: Richard Choate Calhoun: Brittney Cloud Choudrant:  Joy Nolan Delhi: Justin Bullock Dubach: Sawyer Avery, Crystal Marshall Eros: Karrie Jones Jonesboro: Monty Ireland Ruston: Amanda Gunter, Nikki Johnson, Manisha Yadav, Marny Young Saline: Kelli Thomas Shreveport: Melissa Willett Vidalia: Lauren Clayton West Monroe: Jodi Beavers, Hillary Crymes, Julie Pace, Ben Soignier Army Cpt. Chad Dupre served as the ceremony’s guest speaker. Dupre serves with the Army Medical Professional Command at the 94th General Hospital Unit in Little Rock, Ark. Written by Taylor Stephens