Spring Cohort Welcomed
Hunt School of Nursing Welcomes 80 Future Nurses at Spring White Coat Ceremony
Family, friends and faculty gathered Tuesday, Jan. 20, to celebrate a milestone moment for the Hunt School of Nursing’s newest students during the White Coat Ceremony.
The event, held at Medical Science Building II on the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus, welcomed the Spring 2026 cohort of 80 students to the Hunt School of Nursing’s 16-month Accelerated B.S.N. program — a fast-track path to high-demand careers in the region.
The presentation of the white coats marked the students’ formal entry into the nursing profession, symbolizing their dedication to compassionate care, ethical practice and lifelong learning. This marked the beginning of their path toward serving patients and communities.
Our Borderplex community is well-represented in this year’s Hunt School of Nursing class. It consists of:
Seventy-two students from El Paso
Three from Horizon City
Two from Sunland Park, New Mexico
One from Las Cruces, New Mexico
One from Fayetteville, North Carolina
One from Kissimmee, Florida
By recruiting heavily from El Paso and neighboring communities, the Hunt School of Nursing continues its mission to “grow our own” nurses to serve the region’s unique health care needs. The school has graduated over 1,500 nurses, with about 90% remaining in our Borderplex to practice.
El Pasoan Jahaira Morales, a first-generation college student, never envisioned herself pursuing higher education as a child. However, her path led to nursing school later in adulthood.
Although she did not initially see herself as a nurse, Morales said the foundation was laid through various caregiving experiences. Her recent care experience was for an elder recovering from the effects of COVID-19. A trip to Mexico ultimately solidified her decision, where time spent with a retired nurse showed her how a career in nursing could extend beyond the workplace, and into family and community service.
“Aside from being excited to learn the mechanisms and skills to provide health care to patients, I’m excited to engage with different communities. I’m looking forward to learning from those patients to provide compassion and a feeling of safety during their vulnerable moments,” Morales said.
Each student’s white coat, embroidered with the Hunt School of Nursing seal, represents a cloak of compassion and professionalism and was sponsored by members of the community.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education.
Focusing on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated more than 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.