Nursing students plan dinner to raise funds for pinning ceremony

Nursing is a special kind of job, which is why the graduates of Montana State University-Northern's nursing program deserve a special kind of graduation ceremony, one that requires a little help from their friends.

Starting at 6 p. m. Saturday, the nursing class of 2014 is holding a spaghetti dinner at the Eagles Club to raise funds for their pinning ceremony, to follow the regular Northern graduation ceremony.

The dinner will feature regular staples — spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, dessert — with silent auctions going through dinner and a live auction starting at 7 p. m. Afterward, the Milk River Band will be playing.

Beef for the event was donated by Northern nursing professor Arlys Williams, straight from her ranch outside Chinook.

Northern Nursing Club President Christina Bradbury is helping plan both the dinner and pinning, which she said dates back to Florence Nightingale.

"It's more like a reception for us and our families, " Bradbury said, "for all the work we've done, for our friends and families who have supported us and helped us to succeed. "

In May 2014, the class will line up in their traditional white nurses uniforms and have their official pins placed on their lapel during the ceremony, for which 5th Avenue Christian Church has already donated their foyer area.

While she admits it might be unusual to have to raise money for one's own graduation ceremony, Bradbury said the students need a little help after years of overpriced textbooks, gruelling study hours and, in many cases, being a parent in school.

The class needs $1,500 to hold the reception next year. And Saturday's spaghetti dinner is the best way to help class members reach that goal.