Twenty Recognized for Completing MCC Healthcare Programs

On October 4, Martin Community College's (MCC) Division of Continuing Education held a Healthcare Program Recognition Ceremony in the MCC auditorium. The event recognized all successful completers of recent healthcare programs. The program completers represented Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II, and Phlebotomy programs. An audience of several friends and family members showed their support for the students' achievements.

Those participating in the ceremony included:

• Nurse Aide II (Williamston Campus) -- Kimberly Lassiter, Jennifer Miller, and June Smith
• Phlebotomy (Bertie Campus) -- Nichaela Barnes, Precious Perry, Iesha Barnes, Apple Tabamo, Qiana Wright
• Phlebotomy (Williamston Campus) -- Dalton Barr, Christina Foreman, America Lamadrid, and Robert Mallory
• Nurse Aide I (Bertie Campus) -- Latricia Hines, Lance Joyner Aliyza McCleoud, Ashiya Outlaw, Jakia Roscoe, and Sidaijah Sheppard
• Nurse Aide II Refresher (Williamston Campus) -- Teresa Lewis

After processing into the auditorium, MCC's Healthcare Program Coordinator, Sue Gurley, welcomed everyone and phlebotomy student, Robert Mallory, gave the invocation.

MCC President, Wesley Beddard, provided words of encouragement to the students and emphasized how important their work is and will continue to be over the years to come. He also thanked their family and friends for supporting the students throughout their training. Beddard also reminded the students seeking nursing degrees to consider MCC's new agreement with Roanoke-Chowan Community College (R-CCC). Up to ten MCC students are now able to transfer their MCC credits and NAI training to R-CCC's Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program.

MCC's Associate Vice President of Continuing Education then came to the podium and recognized each of the students with Gurley and Beddard congratulating and presenting them with their certificates as they crossed the stage.

Candance Bryant Whitehurst then recognized the students who earned a CRC (Career Readiness Certification) credential. The CRC designations: platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, are based on a WorkKeys test, which gauges the students' skills in three specific areas: applied mathematics, locating information, and reading for information. This credential makes the student more employable nationwide.

Many of the students intend to use their health care education from MCC as a steppingstone to higher career goals. MCC's NAI program is a prerequisite for the nursing program at R-CCC. Mako Medical, Home Life Care, Everise, Effinity Staffing, ECU Medical Center in Greenville, ECU Hospital Beaufort, and Quality Home Staffing are among the employers already employing most of these MCC health care personnel.

When asked how she felt about her training experience, NA I student Kimberly Lassiter noted, "I have succeeded in the first step in my health care career. My goal is to become an RN."

MCC offers ongoing health care classes in both Williamston and Windsor. For more information, contact Sue Gurley at 252-789-0261 or via email at sue.gurley@martincc.edu.