DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin University’s School of Nursing hosted its annual Legacy of the Lamp ceremony on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, honoring the dedication, compassion, and academic achievements of its Nursing students as they advanced to upper-level coursework. The event, held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, next to Millikin’s campus during Homecoming weekend, celebrated the transition from novice to professional nurse — a symbolic and significant step in the students’ journey toward joining one of the most trusted professions in the world.
School of Nursing Director Teresa Gulley welcomed students, faculty, families, and special guests. In her remarks, Gulley reflected on the ceremony’s historical and symbolic importance, drawing inspiration from Florence Nightingale, known as the “Lady with the Lamp.”
This year’s ceremony also honored the 2026 Alumnus of the Year, Kristin Bloom Pritts ’02/MSN ’07.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Florence Nightingale lamps, a hallmark of the event.
Florence Nightingale used her lamp as both a practical tool and a lasting symbol of compassion, dedication, and hope in nursing. During the Crimean War in the 1850s, Nightingale cared for wounded soldiers in harsh, unsanitary battlefield hospitals. Each night, she made her rounds, carrying a small lamp, and checked on patients long after others had gone to rest. Her nightly visits brought comfort to the injured and dying soldiers, who came to associate her presence with light, safety, and kindness in the midst of suffering. The image of Nightingale walking through dark hospital corridors with her lamp quickly became legendary, symbolizing the nurse’s unwavering commitment to caring for others.
