With its largest graduating class to date, the Shore Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology recognized 18 students, 13 of which also received their Associate in Applied Science degree from Atlantic Cape Community College, at its 31st Annual Graduation Ceremony on May 14 in the Walter E. Edge Theater on Atlantic Cape’s Mays Landing campus.
“We are very fortunate to partner with Atlantic Cape Community College. Students can now actually earn their associate’s degree while earning their certificate of completion from Shore Medical in our program. And, 13 of our 18 graduates completed their associate’s degree while in this program,” said Shore Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology Program Director Kerry Raymond. “In our 31 years, our student body has never wavered in its commitment to providing compassionate and highly-competent care to our families and communities. The Class of 2024 should pride themselves for continuing to not only reach that bar, but for elevating it.”
Keynote speaker Khristy Carney, a Clinical Preceptor at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, stressed to the graduates to always remember that their profession is not just a job, it is a calling, while touting their achievements.
“Today marks a momentous occasion, a culmination of your hard work, dedication and passion for the field of radiology. We celebrate not only your achievements, but also the impact that you will make in the lives of your patients and health care community,” said Carney. “You have spent countless hours honing your skills, mastering the new language of radiologic technology all while balancing your personal lives for the past two years.”
Carney offered sound words of advice for the graduates as they embark upon their careers. “Never stop learning, never stop growing and never stop caring. The world needs compassion, skills and dedicated technologists like yourselves. Go out there and be the best you can be.”
Class representatives Lindsay Bechtler and Ryan Gacayan thanked their many instructors and professors, while also cherishing the many memories and friends that have been made over the past 21 months.
“This program was a demanding one and it tested all of our abilities. There were many moments of frustration that we all overcame,” said Bechtler and Gacayan. “During those 21 months, a room full of strangers morphed into a room of full of friends and colleagues who support and encourage each other. We picked each other up when things got hard and we survived long days of learning new material.”
Four awards were presented to graduates for their outstanding efforts throughout the year:
- The Academic Achievement Award for the highest GPA was presented to Miranda Wilbert
- The Outstanding Clinical Performance Award was presented to Carley Young
- The Joseph DiOrio Community Service Memorial Award was presented to Lindsay Bechtler
- The inaugural Alan Beatty Leadership Award was presented to Lisa D’Alessandro
Jocelyn Yarrow, Phoebe Wade, Sarah Drongoski and Jessica White were presented with the Madeline Smock Scholarship Award. Each graduate also personally received a School of Radiologic Technology certificate of completion and pin.
Founded in 1992, Radiologic Technology is a cooperative program that meets the needs of students desiring certification and employment as a Radiologic Technologist. The American Registry for Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) requires students to have a minimum of an associate degree from an accredited institution, such as Atlantic Cape, for eligibility to take the ARRT certification examination. The program currently has more than 300 alumni.
The program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technologists (JRCERT) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of X-ray Compliance (NJDEP), and is completed in two phases. The pre-professional phase of the program, which includes courses in general education, mathematics, and science, is completed at Atlantic Cape. The professional phase of the program, which includes the radiologic technology courses and clinical experiences, is completed at Shore Medical Center.
Upon having completed the required 68 college credits and receiving a certificate of all program requirements from SMCSRT, Atlantic Cape will grant an Associate in Applied Science degree.
View a photo gallery of this event on Flickr at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBqqtu.
Visit www.atlanticcape.edu/academics/radiology-tech for more information on the Radiologic Technology program.
