Health sciences graduates honored in pinning ceremonies

Graduating students in eight of Southwestern Community College’s health sciences programs were honored during pinning ceremonies that took place from April 28-May 7 at the Jackson Campus.

The ceremonies afforded students and their instructors an opportunity to reflect on their respective journeys, challenges and triumphs through video and award presentations in advance of the college’s May 8 commencement.
This was the first year human services technology held a pinning ceremony, joining the nursing assistant, medical assistant, therapeutic massage, emergency medical science, nursing, respiratory therapy and physical therapist assistant programs.

“These students develop extremely strong bonds from working together so closely over a two-year period, and our pinning ceremonies give them a chance to appropriately express how much they appreciate their friendships and the training they’ve received,” said Mitch Fischer, dean of health sciences at SCC. “Our health sciences programs are especially challenging, and we’re so proud of all these students who persevered and made it to the finish line.”

For more information about the health sciences programs at SCC, visit southwesterncc.edu, call 828.339.4000 or stop by the Jackson Campus.

Photo of Emergency Medical Science Pinning Title
Photo of EMS Jackson County residents honorees
Among the honorees at SCC’s emergency medical sciences pinning ceremony on May 5 were Jackson County residents, from left: Zachary Cagle of Sylva, Cody McMillan of Cullowhee, Whitney Yates of Cullowhee and Danielle Greenberg of Rosman.
Photo of EMS Macon County residents honorees
EMS honorees included, Macon County residents, from left: Jacob Bingham, Milton Bennett and Raysha Nations – all from Franklin.
Photo of Beau Schneider
EMS honoree Beau Schneider (pictured) of Whittier. Not pictured is Adam Barker of Bryson City.
Photo of Danielle Greenberg
EMS honoree Danielle Greenberg of Rosman.
Photo of Human Services Technology Pinning Ceremony artwork
Photo of Willie Brown
SCC’s Human Services Technology program held its first pinning ceremony on May 5 at the Jackson Campus. Among the honorees was Willie Brown of Murphy.
Photo of Tammy Norris and Julie Stinchcomb
HST honorees included Tammy Norris (left) of Whittier and Julie Stinchcomb of Sylva.
Photo of Elizabeth Simpson
HST honoree Elizabeth Simpson of Franklin.
Photo of Molly Shaw
HST honoree Molly Shaw of Bryson City.
Photo of Therapeutic Massage Pinning Ceremony artwork
Photo of Angela Cucumber
SCC’s Therapeutic Massage program held a pinning ceremony on May 4 at the Jackson Campus. Among the honorees was Angela Cucumber of Whittier.
Photo of Therapeutic Massage honorees from Jackson County
Therapeutic Massage honorees included, from left: Javier Espinoza of Cullowhee, Cambria Whitfield of Cullowhee, Cody Ragsdale of Sylva, Angela Cucumber of Whittier, Noah Munn of Tuckasegee and Nikki Middleton of Sylva.
Photo of Therapeutic Massage honorees from Macon County
Therapeutic Massage honorees included, from left: Nikki McDaniel of Franklin, Joshua Tesch of Franklin, Sarah Shuler of Franklin, Amber Golebiewski of Franklin and Stacy Rivers of Scaly Mountain.
Photo of Flemming Sanders and Denise Panther
Therapeutic Massage honorees included, Denise Panther (right) of Cherokee and Flemming Sanders of Bryson City.
Photo of Medical Assisting Pinning Ceremony artwork
Photo of Charlotte Saunooke
SCC’s medical assisting program held its pinning ceremony on April 29 at the Jackson Campus. Among the honorees was Charlotte Saunooke of Cherokee.
Photo of Medical Assisting honorees from Jackson County
Medial Assisting honorees included, from left: Charlotte Saunooke of Cherokee, Yesenia Oviedo of Sylva and Stephanie Green-Henson of Cullowhee.
Photo of Medical Assisting honorees from Macon County
Medial Assisting honorees included Franklin residents, from left: Serena Shampine, Brittany Brooks and Deena Gibson-Carpenter.
Photo of Constance Orr-Snelson
Medial Assisting honoree Constance Orr-Snelson of Hendersonville.
Photo of Nurse Aide Pinning Ceremony artwork
Photo of Nurse Aid honorees from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who were honored during the nursing assistant program’s pinning ceremony on April 28 at Southwestern Community College include, from left: Jessica Higdon of Bryson City, Rustlina Long of Cherokee, Zachary Lambert of Cherokee and Saundra Wade of Whittier.
Photo of Kayee Silvers
Nurse Aid honoree Kayee Silvers of Robbinsville
Photo of Christine Hayward and Courtney Craig
Nurse Aid honorees included, Christine Hayward and Courtney Craig of Waynesville.
Photo of Nurse Aid honorees from Jackson County
Nurse Aid honorees included front row, from left: Karenda Cooper of Sylva, Venus Ramirez of Cashiers, Brandy Anders of Balsam Grove, Tiffany Mills of Sylva, Chanda Stiwinter of Sylva and Paige Simpson of Cullowhee. Back row: Debra Cumbie Henry of Dillsboro, Janice Hill of Sylva and Trevor Curtice of Sylva.
Photo of Nurse Aid honorees from Macon County
Nurse Aid honorees included, from left: Carla Miller of Franklin, Kasey Saterfiel of Franklin, Sayne Feria Cruz of Highlands, David Mathis of Franklin, Theresa Collins of Franklin, Lisa Sanford of Franklin, Chastity Seibert of Franklin and Alicia Duarte Bustos of Franklin.
Photo of Nurse Aid honorees from Swain County
Nurse Aid honorees included, from left: Saundra Wade of Whittier, Hilda Woodard of Bryson City, Cheyenne Piper of Bryson City, Wendy Millsaps of Bryson City, Rustlina Long of Cherokee, Jessica Higdon of Bryson City, Kaylee Silvers of Robbinsville and Zachary Lambert of Cherokee.
Photo of Nursing Assoicate Pinning Ceremony artwork
Photo of Nursing honorees
Southwestern Community College’s nursing students honored during a pinning ceremony on May 6 included, top row, from left: Valerie Brooks Palmer of Waynesville and Nancy Flynn Davis of Sylva. Second row: Jacqueline Ann Shuey (Lake Toxaway), Joshua Revels (Sylva). Third row: Nichole Hill (Franklin), Ryan T. Pettit (Sylva). Fourth row: LaDonna Owens (Franklin), Susie Schofield (Franklin), Leah Johnson (Tuckasegee). Fifth row: Alisha Seaman (Franklin), Mark Lee Edwards (Sylva). Sixth row: Kara-Joy Seaman (Franklin), Matthew Madden (Sylva), Jennifer Hardin Page (Sylva). Seventh row: Blair Runken (Franklin), Anthony Wayne Heltsley (Cashiers). Eighth row: Shirley Marie Mathis (Franklin), Kelle Evans (Franklin), Miranda Partington (Franklin). Ninth Row: Ashlyn Silvers (Robbinsville), Elizabeth Queen (Sylva), Ashley King (Clayton, GA), Kristyn Stevens (1st year instructor). Tenth row: Elizabeth C. Goodrick (Franklin), Amber Lindberg (Franklin), Kimi McMahan (2nd year instructor). Bottom row: Ellen Heim (1st year instructor), Barbara Connell (program director), Amanda Annette Pack (Franklin), Katie Faye Sevigny (Franklin) and Wendy Buchanan (2nd year instructor).
Photo of Physical Therapist Assistant Pinning Ceremony artwork
Photo of Collin Gray
PTA honoree Collin Gray of Andrews.
Photo of Brooke Worley
PTA honoree Brooke Worley of Canton.
Photo of Mikayla Turner
PTA honoree C. Mikayla Turner of Cullowhee.
Photo of PTA honorees from Macon County
PTA honorees included, from left: Kelsey Anderson of Franklin, Melissa Branscum of Cullowhee, Robert Vernelson of Franklin, Gary Piper of Franklin and Sergio Izquierdo of Otto.
Photo of Radiography Pinning Ceremony artwork
Photo of Radiography pinning honorees
Second-year Radiography students honored during a pinning ceremony on April 30 were, from left top to right: Christina Zorcik of Clyde; Chelsea Ramsey of Waynesville); Carlea Cook of Franklin; JC Blake of Fletcher; Cassie Cassels of Clyde; Marc Parks of Cashiers; Celina Guffey of Franklin; Joe Cloer of Franklin; Brittany Maney of Hayesville; Kelly Arch of Cherokee; Erika Bailey of Tryon. Not pictured is Kelsey Apel of Franklin.
Photo of Respiratory Therapy Pinning Ceremony artwork
Photo of respiratory therapy pinning honorees from Buncombe County
Buncombe County residents who were honored in the respiratory therapy program’s pinning ceremony on May 7 at Southwestern Community College included, from left: Zac Short of Asheville, Noah Jones of Candler and Justin Wilson of Weaverville.
Photo of Giuliana Staton
Respiratory therapy honoree Giuliana Staton, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Photo of respiratory therapy pinning honorees from Waynesville
Respiratory therapy honorees included from left: Haley Evans of Canton, Hannah Carver of Canton, Jordan “Dani” Cody of Canton and Landen Stevenson of Waynesville.
Photo of Sydney Lyda
Respiratory therapy honoree Sydney Lyda of Hendersonville .
Photo of Robert Bibby and Giuliana Staton
Jackson County residents respiratory therapy honorees included, Robert Bibby (left) of Cullowhee and Giuliana Staton of Sylva.
Photo of Benjamin Lackey
Respiratory therapy honoree Benjamin Lackey of Franklin.