For two of the 26 students graduating from Gateway Technical College’s two-year nursing program, the pinning ceremony Tuesday had an extra special significance.

Besides receiving their associate degrees in nursing and pins symbolizing Gateway’s nursing program, graduates Sarah D. Helding and Amy Hannaman, both 32, were thrilled to have their spouses be a part of it — all the way from Iraq.

While unfortunately a two-way hook-up didn’t work, the college’s technical department was able to provide a live streaming video showing the ceremonies to the servicemen in Iraq. As GTC President Bryan Albrecht stated, it was “the first time our pinning ceremony is going global.”

For the two women, having their spouses participate in the ceremony despite their deployment to Iraq — where it was 4 a.m. at the time of the ceremony — made it much more special.

Hannaman, who presented an electronic composite photo of all 26 classmates to the school, was presented her nursing pin by her children, Katelyn, 9; Samantha, 8, and Rebecca, 5. She said she was “ecstatic” to have her husband, Glenn, witness the ceremony electronically.

“He’s been through so much of the program with me. I’m just glad he’s part of it,” she said.

Glenn Hannaman, who’s been in the Army National Guard for 17 years, is now serving at Camp Taji in Iraq. He deployed last January for his first tour to Iraq and is expected to return in January.

Wade Helding is serving at Camp Cropper in Iraq. He joined the Army National Guard in 1992 after high school. He previously served in Afghanistan and Oman before going to Iraq. He deployed in January and is expected to return next May.

“He’s been a big part in encouraging and supporting me throughout school,” said Sarah Helding, who was pinned by her daughters Allyssa, 15, and Amanda, 10. “I truly thank Gateway for doing that. They really went above the norm. It means so much to have a little piece of him here with us.”

Amy Hannaman has been working as a student nurse intern at St. Catherine’s Hospital. She will begin working there as a nurse on the medical surgical floor in January.

Sarah Helding did her student internship in the emergency room at St. Mary’s Hospital. She said she’s interested in continuing to work in emergency room nursing. She plans to look for a position after her husband’s return and once the family is back into a routine.

The Gateway pinning ceremony included a recitation of the International Pledge of Nursing and an inspirational prayer, “The Blessing of Hands.”

In the past, nursing graduations have included other special events including a proposal. During another year, one of the students had a surprise visit from her father, a Marine serving in Operation Desert Storm.

“We always have surprises,” said nursing instructor Sophia Petraitis.