Kishwaukee College therapeutic massage program holds pinning ceremony

Kishwaukee College therapeutic massage graduates participated in a traditional pinning ceremony Aug. 9 in Jenkins Auditorium in the Kishwaukee College Conference Center.

The graduates in therapeutic massage are: Eva de Coro, Sycamore; Gina Downey, DeKalb; Nicole Goodrich, Shabbona; Oskar Ibarra, North Aurora; Evangeline LaCasse, Genoa; Miguel Monroy, Rochelle; Daphne Rodriguez, DeKalb; and Jennifer Seldal, Malta.

The tradition of pinning health care graduates originated with the nursing profession in 1860, when Florence Nightingale presented a lapel pin to her best students. Over the years, other health care professions have added the practice to their graduation traditions to symbolize an official initiation into the students’ chosen health care profession.

During the ceremony, each graduate was pinned individually by a friend or family member who supported the student or acted as a mentor. The graduates also heard addresses by Laurie Borowicz, president of Kishwaukee College; Bette Chilton, dean of Health and Education; Leslie Ciaccio, coordinator of the Complementary Health Programs; Lisa Bogdonas, therapeutic message instructor; and student speaker Gina Downey.

The graduates and their families and friends also watched a short video, created by Ben Pluta, son of a therapeutic message alumnus, that recapped their progress through the program. Graduates, family and friends enjoyed light refreshments after the ceremony.

For information on the therapeutic massage or esthetics programs at Kishwaukee College, contact Leslie Ciaccio at 815-825-9363 or lciaccio@kish.edu.