St. Bonaventure University

St. Bonaventure University honored five graduates of its Master’s Entry to Practice (MEP) nursing program Saturday during a traditional Stethoscope Ceremony, marking their transition into the nursing profession.

(Pictured, from left: Alayne Schobey, Claire Hoffman, Julia Nunn, Danielle Wolcott and Angelina Padilla after the scope ceremony.)

The ceremony recognized students who completed the Master of Science in Nursing degree and will next sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed registered nurses. Two graduates have already accepted nursing positions:

• Alayne Schobey, who also earned an individualized bachelor’s degree at SBU in 2023, will join the Labor and Delivery Unit at UPMC Chautauqua.
• Julia Nunn, who completed a bachelor’s degree in Health Science at SBU in 2023, has accepted a position on the post-orthopedic unit at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC).
  

Dr. Swagata Banik, dean of the DePerro School of Health Professions, formally conferred the degrees during the event. Fr. Stephen Mimnaugh, O.F.M., vice president for Mission Integration, offered a blessing of the hands for the graduates and faculty, a tradition symbolizing the sacred responsibility of caring for patients.

One of the most meaningful moments of the ceremony came as each graduate was joined on stage by a family member who placed a stethoscope around their neck — the way they will wear it in practice. The gesture signified the beginning of their professional journey and their readiness to work within their scope of practice as registered nurses.

Nunn was also honored with the ANA–NY Future Nurse Leader Award, presented by Dr. Connie Perkins, program director of the MEP program and president of ANA–NY. The award recognizes nursing students who demonstrate exceptional leadership during their academic program.

The graduates also recited the Bona Nurse Pledge, written by the MEP program’s inaugural cohort last year.

“I am humbled to see another wonderful group of Bona nurses going out into the world,” Perkins said. “Now more than ever, our healthcare systems need compassionate, knowledgeable nurses who are ready to listen to their patients, make meaningful change in their workplaces, and use technology effectively each and every shift. These Bona Nurses are ready to do all of that and more.”

The MEP program, which prepares individuals with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees for careers as registered nurses, emphasizes clinical excellence, patient-centered care, leadership development and the Franciscan values of compassion, wisdom and integrity that guide the university.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).