Twenty-two new graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year Radiography program were honored in a May 8 pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center.
The Radiography Class of 2017 included Marlene LaShon Bailey and Anna Tilley, both of Creedmoor; Trevor Houston and Brooke Oakley-Storer, both of Durham; Mary Elizabeth Brewer, Kelsey Paige Hight, Kara Siena Shelton Reese and Madalyne Woods, all of Henderson; Kaitlyn Burton Sumner of Hurdle Mills; Chelsea Jane Flaxcomb and Sabrina Johnson, both of Louisburg; Mary DeAnn Currin, Maricela Carbajal, Kristel L. DeHart and Jonathan Liddane, all of Oxford; Jaime Wilson Lorey of Raleigh; Brittany Michelle Chandler of Roxboro; Morgan Hailey Keith of Stem; James Arnold Lea of Timberlake; Jamisha Danielle Twitty of Warrenton; Taylor Renee Davis and Jennifer Rena Rhodes, both of Youngsville.
In welcoming remarks, VGCC Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Angela Ballentine congratulated the graduates and, as a colleague in the field of radiologic technology, former instructor and former program head, welcomed them to the imaging profession. She shared some information about the diverse class, noting that nine graduates had been raising children during their studies, 17 had earned Dean’s List or President’s List honors, and seven already held college degrees or diplomas in other fields.
Ballentine expressed best wishes to at least 14 graduates who are planning to continue their education in specialty fields such as CT, MRI, mammography and nuclear medicine. She also thanked the faculty and staff who had “educated, inspired and supported these students.”
Jamisha Twitty was recognized with the Academic Achievement Award for having the highest GPA in the class. Anna Tilley received the Mallinckrodt Award for outstanding clinical performance. James Lea received the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Student Award of Excellence.
The students voted for Deborah T. Gilliam of EmergeOrtho (formerly Triangle Orthopaedics) as the top technologist at the clinical sites in which they received their 900 hours of practical training, while Lindsey Hinkle of the Durham V.A. Medical Center received the JRCERT Award of Excellence for Clinical Educators. Both are VGCC alumni. The Clinical Affiliate Award of Excellence went to the Durham V.A. Medical Center.
The guest speaker for the ceremony was Anthony Kidd, chief therapist/manager of Radiation Oncology at Maria Parham Health. Kidd is an alumnus of the VGCC Radiography program. “I think back now to how important Vance-Granville has been to me for my life and my career,” Kidd reflected. He expressed his pride in the graduates. “You have worked hard and made some personal sacrifices,” Kidd told them. “It was well worth it, because now, you have a degree, a trade, a profession, and no matter where you go or what you do, that stays with you.” He thanked the instructors for their dedication to the students, the college and the imaging profession.
Kidd offered a description of the characteristics of radiologic technologists, saying that they were creative, problem-solvers, skilled at time management and compassionate. “We’re not only artists, but through our art, we save lives,” he said of radiographers. “Our profession means a lot to me. We are key parts of any hospital. Doctors can’t doctor and nurses can’t nurse effectively until you have done your job.”
As class president, Jamisha Twitty gave a response on behalf of her classmates. She thanked the Radiography instructors for their wisdom and patience. She and other class officers surprised faculty members Angela Thomas, Stacey Soles, Anthony Twisdale and Lewis Daughtry with gifts from the class to show their appreciation. Twitty also expressed appreciation to her classmates and to the graduates’ “families and friends who have supported us from day one and sacrificed to ensure we stay on the path to success.” To them, she said, “This has been a shared victory.”
Lori Wiggins, a member of the Radiography Class of 2018 and vice president of the Radiography Club, thanked the senior students for their support and particularly recognized Twitty for encouraging the junior students.
Graduates received pins from Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas and recited the Radiographer’s pledge as the ceremonies concluded.
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