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CCCC Lee Con Ed medical students graduate

06.01.2009 • Continuing Education, Students/Graduates

SANFORD - Dreams came true - after a lot of hard work - as medical program students received their certificates from Central Carolina Community College May 27.

About 90 graduating students of the college’s Lee County Continuing Education Department’s medical programs gathered for their graduation exercises at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. They ranged in age from teenagers to 85-year-old David Allan, of Carolina Trace.

Allan earned his Pharmacy Technician Certificate and plans to make use of it during his volunteer work at the Helping Hand Clinic in Sanford.

“I think I can do a lot of good with this certificate for the people who use the clinic,” he said.

Allan served with Merrill’s Marauders in the Pacific during World War II. He graduated from Ithaca College in New York in 1949. He never attended that graduation, so this was a first for him. As for going back to school at 85, the veteran said, “Continuing education is possible. The instructors I had deserve a lot of credit.”

Jennifer Goins, of Harnett County, received her Pharmacy Technician Certificate before she gets her high school diploma. Goins graduates from Western Harnett High School on June 13, so she’s been attending high school and college during the spring.

“I wanted to see what pharmacy was like,” she said. “I’m going to continue at Central Carolina in the fall to earn my associate degree and then transfer to a four-year school.”

Family and friends applauded and cheered the graduating students as they crossed the stage to receive their certificates from college President Bud Marchant.

“Graduations are always my favorite time of year,” he said. “Tonight is the culmination of these students’ hopes and dreams. There’s a lot of magic in the room tonight.”

About 160 students from the college’s service area of Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties, as well as Moore, Randolph, and Sampson counties, earned certificates in EKG, Advanced EKG, EKG Monitor Technician, Health Activity Director, Medical Records Management, Medical Terminology, Pharmacy Technician, Optometric Assistant, Phlebotomy, Nursing Assistant I, or Nursing Assistant II. Some earned more than one.

Angela Rivera, the college’s interim Lee County director of Continuing Education, gave the graduation address at the event. She spoke of the importance of the work they will be doing.

“Where our joy is, that is where our work should be,” she said. “Work in the health care industry will bring you immediate satisfaction. You graduates will make this world a better place.”

Robin West, of Sanford, was laid off from Performance Fibers in 2008 after 29 years on the job. She enrolled in Continuing Education and received her Nursing Assistant I Certificate at the graduation.

“I took a nursing program years ago after I got my GED, but I didn’t work in that field,” she said. “Now, I’ve come full circle. I don’t know what the Lord has in store for me, but whatever it is, I’m ready.”

CCCC Lee Con Ed medical students graduate

David Allan (left), 85, of Carolina Trace, gets a hug from instructor Linda Pascal after receiving his Pharmacy Technician Certificate at the Medical Programs Graduation of Central Carolina Community College’s Lee County Continuing Education Department. The graduation was held May 27 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. Allan, who fought with Merrill’s Marauders in Burma during World War II, volunteers at the Helping Hands Clinic in Sanford. He wanted to get the certificate so he could better serve the clients at the clinic.

CCCC Lee Con Ed medical students graduate

Pharmacy Technician graduate Stephanie Baker (left), of Sanford, receives congratulations and her certificate from Central Carolina Community College President Bud Marchant during the college’s Lee County Continuing Education Department’s Medical Programs Graduation May 27 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. Baker, 17, graduated from Southern Lee High School in January. She now plans to enroll in the college’s Nursing Assistant I program.

CCCC Lee Con Ed medical students graduate

Charles Hickman (left), of Lee County, receives congratulations and his EKG Monitor Technician Certificate from Central Carolina Community College President Bud Marchant during the college’s Lee County Continuing Education Department’s Medical Programs Graduation May 27 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

CCCC Lee Con Ed medical students graduate

Judy Farmer (right), CCCC Continuing Education Health Program Coordinator in Lee County, attaches a nursing pin to the blouse of Shanna Moore, of Harnett County. Shanna received her Nursing Assistant II certificate at the Central Carolina Community College Lee County Continuing Education Department’s Medical Programs Graduation May 27 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. 

CCCC Lee Con Ed medical students graduate

Pharmacy Technician graduate Vanessa Twombly, of Harnett County, receives congratulations and her certificate from Central Carolina Community College President Bud Marchant during the college’s Lee County Continuing Education Department’s Medical Programs Graduation May 27 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

CCCC Lee Con Ed medical students graduate

A happy Teresa Tackett, of Chatham County, receives her Nursing Assistant I Certificate from Central Carolina Community College’s President Bud Marchant during the college’s Lee County Continuing Education Department’s Medical Programs Graduation May 27 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.