Combined DA and MA Graduation Ceremony
The Center for Career and Community Education (CCCE) celebrated the successful completion of students enrolled in the Dental Assisting and Medical Assisting programs in a combined graduation ceremony.
Carla M. DeShaw, Executive Dean of Workforce Development and Community Education at CCCE, opened the evening by welcoming the guests to the ceremony and sharing information about the unique partnership between Cayuga Community College and the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation to form CCCE. Joining DeShaw in welcoming friends and family to the ceremony was CiTi District Superintendent Christopher J. Todd.
Keynote speaker for the evening was CiTi Board of Education President John Shelmidine, who said the students being celebrated represented the cornerstone of what CiTi is all about: life-long learning. He praised them for their hard work and determination and shared with them the enormous impact they will have on not only the lives of the patients they serve, but also on many more lives, including the physicians they work with, and the family members of their patients as well.
Dental Assisting Instructor, Dr. Valerie Graf, called her class a diverse group who have accomplished far more than the certification they are about to hang on their wall. She reminded her graduates, “Remember, the most important person in our office is our patient. Be kind,” she said adding, “It’s not about you, it’s about them.”
Medical Assisting Instructor, Shelly Spencer, in an emotional address, said of her class: “This group will have forever left an imprint on my heart and on my life.”
The class represents the 18th one that Spencer has taught, and while all have been special in their own way, she acknowledged this group was special. “Ladies I’m so very, very proud of you,” she said.
Spencer also announced that the entire class had passed their certification exam.
Also on hand was special guest speaker, Megan Mosher. Mosher is a graduate from the most recent Medical Assisting class and talked to the students about her journey from student to employee in the Medical Assisting field. Mosher is employed as a phlebotomist at Oswego Health. She talked about what motivated her to take the class in the first place and said that the small size of the classes was a huge benefit to her in that she got to know her fellow students and her instructor better and felt that it led to more specialized attention. She ended saying that her instructor, Mrs. Spencer, was genuinely invested in the success of each of her students.
Medical Assisting class speaker was Samantha Capitulik who spoke about the group dynamic and support for one another and the leadership of the program’s teacher. “Mrs. Spencer has impacted my life as much as anyone in my life has,” said Capitulik.
Each member of the DA and MA classes were presented with diplomas and pins before reciting their respective pledges.
Medical Assisting awards were presented to several students including perfect attendance to Tammy Snyder. Valedictorian was presented to Virluann Aponte, with a GPA of 91.79. Salutatorian went to Jennifer Blake with a GPA of 91.27.
Dental Assisting Valedictorian was Caroline Buske with GPA of 96.07 and Salutatorian Gabrielle Benn with GPA of 92.94.
The following students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society: Virluann Aponte, Jennifer Blake, Jamie Borto, Melissa Schirtz, Gabrielle Benn, Caroline Buske, Shae Jeter and Tasha Freeman. NTHS recognizes not only academic achievement, but also the character attributes of leadership, skills, honesty, citizenship, service and responsibility.
Dental Assisting graduates and CiTi administration are pictured left to right: Donna Blake, CiTi Board Member; John Shelmidine, CiTi Board President; Shae Jeter; Brooke George; Johnathan Hollis; Emily Harrington; Gabrielle Benn; Caroline Buske; Dr. Valerie Graf, DA Instructor; and Christopher J. Todd, CiTi District Superintendent.
Medical Assisting graduates and CiTi administration are pictured left to right: Donna Blake, CiTi Board Member; John Shelmidine, CiTi Board President; Shelly Spencer, MA Instructor; Jamie Borto, Tasha Freeman, Kristine Raymond, Virluann Aponte, Samantha Capitulik, Heather Hilliard, Melissa Shirtz, Tammy Schneider, Jennifer Blake, Samantha Ford, Elizabeth Rice, Health Occupations Coordinator; and Christopher J. Todd, CiTi District Superintendent.