Pinning Ceremonies

Approximately 8 weeks prior to the pinning ceremony, the Office of Student & Academic Affairs (OSAA) will send a required student RSVP form to eligible students via UW email.

Completion of the RSVP form is essential, as the information collected is used for multiple components of the pinning ceremony.

Information Collected in the Student RSVP

Students will be asked to provide the following information:

Student Information

• Preferred name
• Pronouns
• Phonetic spelling of name

Pinner Information

• Pinner’s full name
• Relationship to the student
• Phonetic spelling of the pinner’s name

This information is used to create:

• The name card students will receive at check-in on the day of the ceremony
• The pinning ceremony program

Students are encouraged to review all entries carefully for accuracy.

Additional Uses of the RSVP Form

The student RSVP form also serves several additional purposes:

• Student Speaker Nominations: Students may nominate themselves or peers to serve as the student speaker. (See the Student Speaker section below for more information on the nomination and selection process.)
• Student Photos: Students will be asked to upload a photo, which may be used in the pinning ceremony slideshow.
• Accessibility & Accommodations: Students may indicate any accommodation needs for their guests, allowing the School of Nursing to plan appropriately.

Important Notes

• The RSVP deadline is firm to ensure accurate programs and ceremony materials.
• Late or incomplete submissions may result in errors or omissions in ceremony materials.
• Students should contact OSAA as soon as possible if changes are needed after submission.

Why this matters

The student RSVP form helps ensure that each student is recognized accurately and respectfully during the ceremony, while also supporting smooth ceremony logistics and accessibility planning.

Each pinning ceremony includes a student speaker selected by their cohort.

Nomination & Selection Process

• Nominations: Student speaker nominations are collected through the student RSVP form, which is sent to eligible students via UW email.
• Nominee Confirmation: Once nominations are received, the Office of Student & Academic Affairs (OSAA) will contact nominated students to confirm whether they would like to accept or decline the nomination.
• Final Selection: After nominees are confirmed, a student vote will be conducted to select the final student speaker.

Timeline & Support

• The selected student speaker will be notified approximately 3–4 weeks prior to the ceremony.
• This timeline allows sufficient time for the student to draft, revise, and finalize their remarks.
• OSAA will work closely with the student speaker leading up to the ceremony to provide guidance on:
  • Speech length and content suggestions
  • Rehearsal and timing
  • What to expect on the day of the ceremony

This collaborative process is designed to ensure the student speaker feels supported, prepared, and confident.

All UW School of Nursing pinning ceremonies are held at:

Kane Hall 130 (Roethke Auditorium)
University of Washington
4069 Spokane Lane NE
Seattle, WA 98195

Parking & Arrival Planning

Parking on campus can be limited and confusing, particularly during large events. It is extremely important that students review the parking information below in advance and share it with their guests ahead of the ceremony.

Students and guests should review the University of Washington Event Services parking guidance at the link below:

UW Event Parking, Load & Unload Information: https://eventservices.uw.edu/resources/parking-load-unload/

This page includes:

• Parking locations and options for Kane Hall
• Load/unload guidance
• Step-by-step directions for walking from nearby parking garages to Kane Hall

Students are strongly encouraged to review this information carefully and share it with their guests so everyone knows where to park and how to reach the venue.

PayByPhone Parking App

Parking payment is required on campus.

To avoid delays:

• All attendees are strongly encouraged to download the PayByPhone app ahead of time.
• The onsite parking pay stations are slow, and lines often build up during pinning ceremonies, which can cause delays for guests entering the venue.

Planning ahead will help ensure guests arrive on time and settled before the ceremony begins.

Plan Ahead

Traffic conditions on and around campus can vary and are difficult to predict. Students and guests should plan to arrive early and allow extra time for:

• Traffic
• Parking
• Walking from the garage to Kane Hall
• Entering the venue before the ceremony begins

Planning ahead and sharing this information with guests will help create a smoother, less stressful experience for everyone.

Students should review the Graduation & Recognition Ceremonies page for ceremony-specific details, including when doors will open for their pinning ceremony.

Doors typically open 30–45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time to allow time for student check-in and for guests to find and settle into their seats.

• The check-in desk will be located outside of the auditorium.
• Upon arrival, students should check in at the desk to:
  • Pick up their name card
  • Receive final instructions for seating and ceremony flow

Once doors open and students have checked in, students and their guests are encouraged to enter the venue and settle in.

Venue Entry

• The entrance to the left of the check-in table is designated for guests.
• The entrance to the right of the check-in table is designated for students and their pinners.

Event staff and volunteers will be present to assist with check-in, entry, and directions.

To ensure a smooth ceremony flow, allow students and their pinners to easily rise and approach the stage, and help maintain clear sightlines for all guests, seating is arranged intentionally.

• Students will be seated in an assigned section.
• Each student may be accompanied by one pinner of their choice, who will sit with them in the designated section.
• All other guests will be seated in general seating areas, which will be clearly marked and supported by event staff.

Please follow staff guidance to ensure seating and transitions run smoothly.

This section outlines the general flow of the pinning ceremony and how students and their pinners will move through Kane Hall during the event.

During the ceremony:

• Students and their pinners will be seated together in the designated student seating section.
• When it is time, students and their pinners will be guided to stand and approach the stage.
• Each student will be called forward individually to receive their pin.
• After being pinned, students and their pinners will return to their seats following the directed pathway.

To help visual the process, please review the diagram below:

*Diagram coming soon*

Rest assured that event staff and volunteers will provide cues throughout the ceremony to support a smooth and organized experience.