VGCC honors Radiography Graduates


Members of the 2012 Radiography graduating class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their pins May 7 included, front row, from left: Michelle Adcox, Tanya Beal, Anne Abraham, Patricia Clark, and Brittany Collier; second row, from left: Kirsten Berkley, Jeana Thomas, Amanda Boydston, Anna Crews, Courtney McGhee, Toni Crandon and Cherita Edmonds; third (top) row, from left: Timothy Powell, Erica Brewer, Angela Fuller, Denise Liles, Theodore Wilkins and Victoria Alford. (VGCC Photo)

Eighteen graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year Radiography program were honored in a May 7 pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center. VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams welcomed guests to the ceremonies and congratulated the graduates, saying that earning their degree “is an accomplishment that will take you from Vance-Granville into a very promising future.” She said that half of the diverse class reported that they intended to continue their education, while half said they would be starting their careers immediately.

The Radiography Class of 2012 included Brittany Collier of Bahama; Tanya Beal of Butner; Denise Liles of Durham; Kirsten Berkley and Theodore Wilkins, both of Franklinton; Michelle Adcox and Amanda Boydston, both of Henderson; Timothy Powell of Norlina; Erica Brewer, Anna Crews, Cherita Edmonds and Jeana Thomas, all of Oxford; Anne Abraham of Raleigh; Angela Fuller of Roxboro; Victoria Alford, Patricia Clark and Toni Crandon, all of Wake Forest; and Courtney McGhee of Youngsville.

The guest speaker for the ceremony was Anthony Twisdale, a VGCC Radiography alumnus who works as a radiography staff supervisor at Duke University Medical Center and is a part-time instructor for the program. “It is my greatest hope is that you will continue to show the traits and the fortitude you have shown each and every day in class,” he told the graduates. Twisdale emphasized that “our influence as radiographers or imaging professionals can have a huge impact on health-care as a whole, and I think health-care is the most important profession of all.” Class president Theodore Wilkins gave a response on behalf of his fellow students. He said that “the road to success has not been easy,” but now, the graduates were “ready to conquer the world of radiography.” Toni Crandon was presented with both the class Academic Achievement Award and the Mallinckrodt Award for outstanding clinical performance. Theodore Wilkins and Jeana Thomas both received the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Student Award of Excellence. The students voted for Tammy Richardson from Community Memorial Health Center in South Hill, Va. (also a 2003 graduate of the VGCC Radiography program) as the top technologist at the clinical sites in which they received their 900 hours of practical training, while Kimberly Brooks from Triangle Orthopaedics-Durham and Shanna Tanksley from Durham Regional Hospital received the JRCERT Award of Excellence for Clinical Educators. The VA Medical Center in Durham was also presented with the Clinical Affiliate Award of Excellence. Wilkins made a special presentation on behalf of the class to express their appreciation to the security personnel at South Campus, Charles Thompson and Dennis Small. He also paid tribute to instructor Jennifer B. Johnson, who is preparing to retire. Angela Fuller performed a song, “I Hope You Dance.”

Graduates received pins from program director Angela Thomas and recited the Radiographer’s pledge as the ceremonies concluded.