PENDLETON – Forty-five nursing students – the largest class ever – have completed their studies at Blue Mountain Community College.

They are among 57 graduates this year from the college’s allied health program. The other 12 are completing a two-year dental assistant program, said Terry Vogel, director of the college’s nursing department.

Nursing students will celebrate their program completion at 2 p.m. Friday during the annual pinning ceremony, where students completing their second year receive a school pin. The ceremony will be in Vert Auditorium, 412 S.W. Dorion Ave.

Pat Maney, a nursing graduate from Helix, has been chosen by the class as speaker at the pinning ceremony, Vogel said.

“The students prepare it themselves,” she added. “It’s their pinning ceremony.”

Vogel, who was hired as director of the nursing program last summer, said the teaching approach has been modified during the past year.

“It’s been a very good year,” she said, adding she attributed students’ success to a more positive environment.

Gayle Lawn-Day, the college’s interim provost and executive vice president, said the administration is proud of the nursing program.

“Under Terry’s leadership, the nursing faculty have worked very hard on revising their curriculum, developing more complete and comprehensive procedures and guidelines for their program, and creating a supportive and rigorous academic atmosphere for their students,” she said. “We know that despite the great gains made this year, even greater advances will be made in the next few years as they build upon the quality foundation laid this year.”

Completing their first year in the nursing program are 31 students. The class may grow by fall term because some students who took time off could be readmitted, Vogel said.