Beloved dog graduates from UH Hilo nursing program

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – One nursing school has gone to the dogs, in a good way.

One graduate walked across the stage on four legs during the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s 2026 Spring Nursing Pinning Ceremony.

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For two years, a service dog named Liam attended every lecture, lab, and clinical rotation alongside his owner, UH Hilo Nursing School Assistant Professor Tracy Thornett.

According to the school, the senior class voted to pin Liam at the ceremony, not as a joke, but to say mahalo.

Thornett says Liam was originally going to be a therapy dog for the hospital, where she worked as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.

However, her plans were put on pause by the the COVID-19 pandemic and a series of personal challenges, including her mother being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.

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With mounting hardship and stress in her life, she says her doctor supported the idea of training Liam as a service dog to provide some comfort.

When Thornett introduced Liam to her nursing class in 2024, she was open with her students about her struggles.

Her students soon thought of Liam as their fellow classmate and mascot.

When the time came for graduation, Thornett’s students welcomed Liam to take part in their official Pinning Ceremony the day before Spring Commencement.

Liam was draped in a custom-made stole alongside his fellow nursing peers.

Thornett says Liam taught the students lessons in his own way, displaying the important value of comfort and care in the health care industry.

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