VGCC honors Radiography Graduates


Members of the 2015 Radiography graduating class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their pins May 11 included, on first (front) row, from left: Juli Mitchell-Luther, Patricia Webb, Amber  Lankford, Abigail Willey, Katie Sumner and Donna Beasley; second row, from left: Anabel Vaughn, JoLynne Winstead, Audra Woods, Christina Cates, Mahala Tant, Michelle Griffin and Amberly Stepp; third row, from left: Vonda Ard, Carmen Pate, Whitney Pleasant, Jenna Tally, Lindsey Hinkle, Chelsea Woods and Heather Jones; fourth row, from left:  Ray Burnette, Anthony Andrews, John Kelly, Joseph Ahrens, Dean Morron and John Britton. (VGCC Photo)

Members of the 2015 Radiography graduating class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their pins May 11 included, on first (front) row, from left: Juli Mitchell-Luther, Patricia Webb, Amber Lankford, Abigail Willey, Katie Sumner and Donna Beasley; second row, from left: Anabel Vaughn, JoLynne Winstead, Audra Woods, Christina Cates, Mahala Tant, Michelle Griffin and Amberly Stepp; third row, from left: Vonda Ard, Carmen Pate, Whitney Pleasant, Jenna Tally, Lindsey Hinkle, Chelsea Woods and Heather Jones; fourth row, from left: Ray Burnette, Anthony Andrews, John Kelly, Joseph Ahrens, Dean Morron and John Britton. (VGCC Photo)

Twenty-six new graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year Radiography program were honored in a May 11 pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center.

The Radiography Class of 2015 included Anabel Salina Vaughn of Bullock; Patricia Webb of Butner; Lindsey Brooke Hinkle, Heather Diane Jones and Carmen Renee Pate, all of Creedmoor; John Douglas Britton II, John T. Kelly III, Juli Mitchell-Luther and Dean Morron, all of Durham; Amber N. Lankford of Efland; Christina Cates of Franklinton; JoLynne Allan Nichole Winstead of Henderson; Joseph D. Ahrens of Louisburg; Jenna Faith Tally of Oak Hill; Anthony J. Andrews and Michelle Aurelia Griffin, both of Oxford; Amberly L. Stepp and Audra Marie Woods, both of Rougemont; Whitney Ann Pleasant of Roxboro; Vonda Kay Ard of Timberlake; Ray Burnette and Chelsea Morgan Woods, both of Wake Forest; Abigail Willey of Warrenton; Donna Marie Beasley, Katie Elizabeth Sumner and Mahala Tant, all of Youngsville.

In welcoming remarks, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams congratulated the graduates and shared some information about the diverse class. She noted that 12 of them were born outside of North Carolina, including one who was born in another country. “This class has been active on campus,” the president said. “Among the graduates are leaders in our Student Government Association, members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, students who have been recognized for excellence, and even one nominee for a statewide student award. Five members of this class already held college degrees in one field or another before they entered the Radiography program, and four more held certificates.” Williams expressed best wishes to at least 12 graduates who are planning to continue their education in fields such as CT, MRI, mammography and radiation therapy. She also thanked the faculty and staff who had “educated, inspired and supported these students.”

The guest speaker for the ceremony was John Crossgrove, assistant director for radiology and oncology services at Duke Regional Hospital. Crossgrove, who serves on the advisory committee for the VGCC Radiography program, emphasized the letters “AEC” in his remarks. In the field of radiography, the acronym stands for “Automatic Exposure Control,” but he used the letters to stand for attributes of the graduates: “Achievement, Excellence and Compassion.” Crossgrove praised the students for their hard work. “Your efforts have paid off,” he said. “You’re here. It’s a new beginning.”

Class president Joseph Ahrens gave a response on behalf of his fellow students. He thanked class secretary JoLynne Winstead for her service, particularly in helping to organize the pinning ceremony. “Although this ceremony does seem like the end, it is just the beginning of a lifelong journey,” Ahrens said. “I know that each of us will succeed because of what we have learned over the past 21 months.” He thanked the instructors for “pushing us and maintaining high expectations.”

Student Chelsea Woods was presented with the Academic Achievement Award for having the highest GPA in the class.

Anthony Andrews received the Mallinckrodt Award for outstanding clinical performance.

Katie Summer received the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Student Award of Excellence.

The students voted for James Etheridge of Duke Regional Hospital as the top technologist at the clinical sites in which they received their 900 hours of practical training, while Kristen Briggs of Triangle Orthopaedics in Durham received the JRCERT Award of Excellence for Clinical Educators. The Clinical Affiliate Award of Excellence went to the VA Medical Center in Durham.

Graduates received pins from program head Bobby Austin and recited the Radiographer’s pledge as the ceremonies concluded.