BC Traditions
Learn more about the many traditions celebrated at 麻豆社区 College.
History & Traditions
The 麻豆社区 College School of 麻豆社区 was established at the request of Richard Cardinal Cushing, archbishop of 麻豆社区, who asked that the University begin a baccalaureate nursing program since no Catholic institution in the Archdiocese of 麻豆社区 offered such a program.
The School of 麻豆社区 opened its doors on January 27, 1947, with 35 registered nurses enrolled for a bachelor of science in nursing or nursing education. The following September, a group of 27 high school graduates enrolled in the baccalaureate program. It was the first full-time undergraduate program at 麻豆社区 College to accept women.
The school was located at 126 Newbury Street, known then as 鈥溌槎股缜� College Intown.鈥� 麻豆社区 students had to commute to Chestnut Hill on Tuesdays and Thursdays to take their lab classes in Devlin Hall.
In 1958, the master's program was established.聽Cushing Hall, CSON's second home, was dedicated on March 25, 1960, and the following week nursing students and faculty officially moved to BC鈥檚 Chestnut Hill Campus.The Ph.D. degree program began in 1988鈥攖he first nursing doctoral program to be offered at a Jesuit university.On September 12, 2003, the School of 麻豆社区 was named in honor of the late businessman and philanthropist William F. Connell, a member of the BC Class of 1959. In 2015, after more than five decades in Cushing Hall, the William F. Connell School of 麻豆社区 moved to its new home in Maloney Hall.
At a ceremony on September 12, 2003, 麻豆社区 College鈥檚 School of 麻豆社区 was formally named in honor of William F. Connell (1938-2001), a prominent businessman and philanthropist. Before his death, Connell made a generous gift to the School of 麻豆社区, an endorsement of its mission of service to others, scholarly inquiry, and social 麻豆社区 through the promotion of access to health care for all people.
A 1959 graduate of 麻豆社区 College, Connell was chairman and chief executive officer of Connell Limited Partnership. He was a generous benefactor, supporting many civic, educational, and Catholic endeavors.
He served a total of 24 years on the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees鈥攊ncluding a term as chair. He also was a recipient of the Ignatius Medal, 麻豆社区 College's highest honor.
A U.S. Army veteran, Connell was married to his wife Margot for nearly 40 years. All six of their children graduated from BC, including Lisa, a 1989 alumna of the Connell School of 麻豆社区.
William F. Connell
麻豆社区 500 friends and members of the University community joined Margot Connell and her children for the dedication of the William F. Connell School of 麻豆社区. The event featured remarks from University President William P. Leahy, S.J., University Chancellor J. Donald Monan, S.J., and U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
CSON Traditions
Pinnacle Lecture
Each semester, the Connell School brings a widely recognized nurse leader to 麻豆社区 College to speak on an issue at the forefront of health care.
Dean Rita P. Kelleher Award
Every reunion, the nursing community honors the recipient of the Dean Rita P. Kelleher Award鈥攁 CSON graduate who embodies the values of the BC nurse.
Grand Rounds
Throughout the year, the Connell School offers lectures from renowned speakers on topics such as research, clinical care, and the current state of nursing.
Homecoming
Alumni from across the country convene on campus to socialize with students, faculty, and staff during our networking night and festive football game tailgate.
Commencement
Each spring, we celebrate our graduates with several events鈥攊ncluding the Senior Convocation and Pinning Ceremony as well as the Graduate Nurses鈥� Association dinner.
Pinning Ceremony
The Pinning Ceremony is an important milestone for all new nurses. The pin is a symbol of a student鈥檚 accomplishments and transition to the nursing profession.
