EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- Seventy-six nursing students went through a major rite of passage on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at Texas Tech Health El Paso. These nursing students, including 67 from the Borderland region, received their white coats as they begin their journeys as part of the Hunt School of Nursing. They are part of the Hunt School's Accelerated B.S.N. program, an intenstive 16-month program that leads to a bachelor's degree in nursing. Tony Pina/KTS "This program equips graduates to pursue fulfilling and high-paying careers within hospitals and clinics in our Borderplex community," Texas Tech Health El Paso said in a news release. "The Hunt School of Nursing is growing our own nursing heroes to address the critical nursing shortage and unique health challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border. Historically, 90% of the school’s graduates stay in our area to practice. Since its inception, the Hunt School of Nursing has graduated more than 1,500 nurses, helping to increase the number of R.N.s across our Borderplex region," Texas Tech added in its news release. Each student received a white coat embroidered with the Hunt School of Nursing seal. The coat symbolizes "the cloak of compassion, reminding each of the importance of humanism in community care during their careers," Texas Tech said.