SANFORD - Approximately 475 people are the most recent graduates of the Central Carolina Community College's Continuing Education Medical Programs, which held its graduation on Dec. 13 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center.

The certificate areas include Cardiovascular Monitor Technician, Central Sterile Processing, EMS Leadership, EMT, Laboratory Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Billing and Coding, Nurse Aide I, Nurse Aide II, Paramedic, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and Physical Therapy Aide.

Tanner Whitt, a Nurse Aide I graduate who attended class in Chatham County, was among the student speakers. "Everyone deserves dignity in care," he said. "That is the lesson I have learned during clinical rotation and is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life."

Nurse Aide I graduates Kaleigh Diniz, Janet Casanova, and Kiara Jones, who attended class in Harnett County, each spoke. Diniz said, "No matter who you are or what you have been through, you can do anything if you set your mind to do it ... You can be anything you want to be." Casanova said, "It's never too late to go back and continue your education, and CCCC is a great place with the best teachers that like to help you achieve your goal." Jones said, "So don't let anyone, including yourself, deter you or tell you that you can't do something, or that you won't achieve anything. Or that you're not going down the right path, because I'm here to tell you that you can and that your path is yours to choose."

Nayeli Navichoque, a Nurse Aide I graduate who attended class in Lee County, commented, "One of the most important things that I have also learned is that you have to have passion for what you're doing. This way, everything you do for someone, you do it with love and care."

Katherine Tate, an EMS program graduate, noted, "It takes a team of healthcare professionals to provide the care that sick and injured patients need. We are all a small part of a greater picture and every caregiver the patient encounters plays an important role in their recovery. I am grateful for colleges like Central Carolina who understand that and provide health science continuing education programs such as these."

Welcoming and closing remarks were by Dr. Brian Merritt, CCCC Vice President of Student Learning.

Dr. Jon Matthews, CCCC Harnett Provost, introduced the student speakers.

CCCC President Dr. T. Eston Marchant presented certificates.

Coordinators of the CCCC Continuing Education Medical Programs are Lennie Stephenson (Harnett County), Heike Johnson (Chatham County), and Sandra Hurley (Lee County).

Following the graduation, class members met their families and friends in the Civic & Conference Center foyer for hugs and more picture taking.

For more information about Continuing Education Medical Programs, call (919) 718-7500.