{"id":511,"date":"2026-05-23T12:05:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T12:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=511"},"modified":"2026-05-23T12:05:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T12:05:21","slug":"beloved-dog-graduates-from-uh-hilo-nursing-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=511","title":{"rendered":"Beloved dog graduates from UH Hilo nursing program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – One nursing school has gone to the dogs, in a good way. <\/p>\n

One graduate walked across the stage on four legs during the University of Hawaii at Hilo\u2019s 2026 Spring Nursing Pinning Ceremony.<\/p>\n

Read more Magnitude 6.0 earthquake on Hawaii island shakes the state; no tsunami generated<\/a><\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

According to the school, the senior class voted to pin Liam at the ceremony, not as a joke, but to say mahalo. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Thornett says Liam was originally going to be a therapy dog for the hospital, where she worked as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Read more First Alert Forecast: Holiday weekend starts with an earthquake; blustery trades<\/a><\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

When Thornett introduced Liam to her nursing class in 2024, she was open with her students about her struggles. <\/p>\n

Her students soon thought of Liam as their fellow classmate and mascot.<\/p>\n

When the time came for graduation, Thornett\u2019s students welcomed Liam to take part in their official Pinning Ceremony the day before Spring Commencement. <\/p>\n

Liam was draped in a custom-made stole alongside his fellow nursing peers. <\/p>\n

Thornett says Liam taught the students lessons in his own way, displaying the important value of comfort and care in the health care industry. <\/p>\n

Read more Celebrity chef Katie Chin returns to Honolulu with heartfelt one-woman show<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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