Klamath Falls, Oregon – The room filled with family, friends, faculty and pride on June 9 as Klamath Community College marked one of the most meaningful moments in a nursing student’s journey: the RN Pinning Ceremony.
A total of 277 attendees gathered to celebrate 21 KCC nursing graduates who received their Registered Nurse pins after completing two years in the college’s Sciences and Health program. For the graduates, the pin was more than a small piece of metal. It stood for long nights, difficult lessons, clinical training, sacrifice and the steady choice to keep going.
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The ceremony honored not only the end of a demanding academic chapter, but the beginning of professional lives built around patient care. Graduate Mackenzie Smith reflected on the hard work and perseverance shown by both students and faculty, giving voice to the spirit of the evening. Her remarks pointed to the shared effort behind the milestone: students pushing through challenges, instructors guiding them, and families standing close through it all.
Klamath Community College, based in Klamath Falls, serves southern Oregon through associate degrees, certificates, transfer programs and workforce training. Its work is closely tied to local needs, including healthcare, trucking, construction and other fields that help keep communities moving. The college has also emphasized affordability, small class sizes and access for students who may be building careers close to home.
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That local mission was clear at the pinning ceremony. Nursing remains one of the areas where rural communities depend heavily on trained, committed professionals. KCC’s nursing pathways include an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing for the RN track and a Practical Nurse certificate, with programs designed to prepare students for real healthcare settings, including rural practice.
The June 9 graduates will be recognized again during KCC Commencement this Friday at 6 p.m. on campus, giving the wider college community another chance to honor their achievement.
The ceremony also came as KCC prepares for the next step in nursing education. The college plans to launch an RN-to-BSN program in Fall 2026 through Oregon’s Bachelor of Science: Nursing Community College Collaborative, a statewide effort involving six community colleges.
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The program is designed for registered nurses who already hold an AAS degree in nursing, with online coursework and local support. KCC says seven students will be admitted at each college through a lottery-based process, with applications closing June 26, 2026, at 5 p.m.
For the 21 graduates celebrated this week, the path now stretches beyond the ceremony stage. Their pins mark where they have been. Their next patients will show where they are going.
