CT State Community College Gateway welcomed its newest nurses into the profession with a pinning ceremony today at Lyman Hall at Southern Connecticut State University. The pinning ceremony, a tradition dating back to the Crusades, commemorates Florence Nightingale, who was awarded the Red Cross of St. George during the Crimean War. Nightingale, the mother of modern nursing, shared this honor by presenting her top nursing graduates with pins, symbolizing their competence to serve the public. Today, the pinning ceremony marks a significant milestone for students, their families, faculty, and mentors during the commencement season. 

Gateway’s graduation will be May 23^rd at which time, 98 nurses who have successfully completed academic requirements, technical course work, clinical practicum and a national licensure examination will walk across the stage at the Hartford Healthcare Arena in Bridgeport. The faculty recognized Christopher Ayesu of West Haven and Kristin Mills of Branford with Nursing Academic Excellence Awards.

Because nursing is an in-demand profession, more than 80 members of the Class of 2024 have already been offered positions at hospitals, health centers, clinics, and physicians offices.

Gateway congratulates its nurses and thanks our partners whose clinical experiences make Gateway nurses among the best trained anywhere: Yale New Haven Hospital/Yale New Haven Health, Hartford Healthcare System, and Gaylord Specialty Healthcare.

“The leadership of CT State Community College and all of Gateway’s faculty and staff congratulate our high performing 2024 graduates. Nursing classes are difficult with tough pre-requisites, grueling clinical requirements, and exacting accreditation standards. We recognize the hard work of CT State’s inaugural class and know you will give confidence - and the best of care - to the patients you serve today and into the future,” said Scott Kalicki, Ph.D., CT State Gateway’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and a member of CT State President O. John Maduko, M.D.’s Cabinet.

Nursing students attend Gateway from all over the state, including: (Insert names and hometown of newly pinned nurses here.)

CT State campuses contribute significantly to the healthcare economy in CT. The college offers more than 30 accredited nursing and health career programs, and its campuses have awarded more than 5,000 nursing and allied health degrees and certificates in the past five years. Major clinical partners include Yale New Haven Health, Veteran’s Health Administration, Hartford HealthCare, Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, Connecticut Children’s, and UCONN Health.

For more information, please contact Bienvenido Tabuzo, Jr., Academic Nursing Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Heidi Green, Associate Dean for Institutional Advancement at CT State Community College Gateway at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Gateway students who received nursing pins are listed with their hometown below.

About CT State Community College Gateway: Gateway offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs. It is the largest of Connecticut’s community college campuses, with the most racially and ethnically diverse student population, many of whom experience high education cost burdens. In 2024, Gateway students live in more thank 150 towns and cities, including:  New Haven, Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Bridgeport, Cheshire, Clinton, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Middletown, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge.