Members of the 2013 Radiography graduating class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their pins May 6 included, seated, from left: India Jeffries, Minna Henderson, Tabitha Hudgins, Brittany Young, Erica Bullock, Rakeena Hammond, Brittany Wood, Heather Riley, Fluturije Sira and Sarah Riggan; and standing, from left: Anthony Sproul, Larry Sheeley, Jeremy Hohman, Tenita Dawson, Rita Hatzimimis, Holly Walters, Christina Long, Stacey Carrington, Mary Green-Edmonds, Candice Long, Lora Rowland, Larysa Stolarchuk, Sherri Perry, Lorenzo Tywayne Ball and Jerry Wilson. (VGCC Photo)
Twenty-five new graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year Radiography program were honored in a May 6 pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center. VGCC Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas, who was head of the Radiography program when the graduates first enrolled, presided over the ceremony. In welcoming remarks, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams congratulated the graduates and saluted the faculty for preparing students to become radiographers. “Your class has demonstrated a commitment not only to technical excellence but also to serving others, through your participation in Relay for Life and caroling at local nursing homes,” the president said. “I know that you will represent your profession and your college well.”
The Radiography Class of 2013 included Sherri Perry of Butner; Candace Long, Heather Riley, Larry Sheeley and Larysa Stolarchuk, all of Durham; Erica Bullock, Tabitha Hudgins, Sarah Riggan and Lora Rowland, all of Henderson; Stacey Carrington of Hillsborough; Tenita Dawson of Knightdale; Holly Walters of Littleton; Brittany Young of Louisburg; Jerry Wilson of Oxford; Fluturije Sira of Raleigh; Mary Green-Edmonds, Rita Hatzimimis, Jeremy Hohman and Anthony Sproul, all of Wake Forest; Rakeena Hammond and India Jeffries, both of Warrenton; Lorenzo Tywayne Ball and Minna Henderson, both of Wise; Christina Long and Brittany Wood, both of Youngsville.
The guest speaker for the ceremony was Jennifer Johnson, who retired in 2012 as a VGCC Radiography instructor and spent more than four decades in the profession. “Success is not just being able to take a great diagnostic image or offering great patient care, it is also about you being the best you can be in your life,” Johnson reflected. She told graduates to “be excited about helping people and welcome each new day with excitement.” Collin Bailey, the program’s former clinical coordinator, also spoke, and encouraged graduates to use their degrees as the foundation for additional education.
Class president Lora Rowland gave a response on behalf of her fellow students. She thanked family members and friends for their support and encouragement, and said it was a pleasure to represent the class. Student Rita Hatzimimis was presented with the Academic Achievement Award for having the highest GPA in the class. Fluturije Sira received the Mallinckrodt Award for outstanding clinical performance. Lora Rowland received the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Student Award of Excellence. The students voted for Deborah Gilliam from Triangle Orthopaedics Associates, PA of Raleigh as the top technologist at the clinical sites in which they received their 900 hours of practical training, while Kimberly Brown from North Carolina Diagnostic Imaging of Southpoint received the JRCERT Award of Excellence for Clinical Educators. Program head Bobby Austin presented the Clinical Affiliate Award of Excellence to the VA Medical Center.
Graduates received pins from Dean Angela Thomas and recited the Radiographer’s pledge as the ceremonies concluded.