SSCC respiratory care program honors 18 graduates

Southern State Community College’s fourth graduating class in the respiratory care program was honored during a ceremony held Dec. 11, 2010. Eighteen students successfully completed the program which began in 2005 and graduated its first class in 2007.

SSCC President Dr. Kevin Boys provided the welcome, followed by SSCC Program Director Chyane Collins, who addressed the graduating class. The 2010 commencement speaker, a member of SSCC’s respiratory care first graduating class, was Tonya Howard, AAS, RCP, RRT. The presentation of graduates and diplomas was directed by Dr. Ryan McCall, SSCC Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Carry DeAtley, SSCC Dean of Technical and Career Education. Jennifer Mattachione, SSCC Director of Clinical Education, presented the class humor awards. Graduate Marla Weber delivered the health care oath and graduate Beth Kegley presented the closing comments and introduction of the class video.

Program graduates include Haley Blair of Highland County, Nicole Brown of Fayette County, Mindy Conklin** of Fayette County, Thomas Mark Cope* of Ross County, Ashlee Crouse of Adams County, Deanna Dowler of Fayette County, Bridget Ferrell of Highland County, Jessica Halye of Clinton County, Emily Hughes of Clinton County, Beth Kegley** of Highland County, Jennifer Parsons of Highland County, Caylah Pritchett of Adams County, Kari Singleton* of Highland County, Jennifer Smith of Fayette County, Kelly Snively of Fayette County, Lyndsey Vaughn** of Highland County, Marla Weber** of Ross County, and Carly Womble of Fayette County (*denotes magna cum laude honors; **denotes cum laude honors).

“I would like to extend our thanks to Fayette County Memorial Hospital,” said Collins. “Last summer, the hospital donated a pulmonary function testing machine to the respiratory program. Tony Taylor, a therapist from FCMH was able to visit our respiratory lab and orient our instruction team to the PFT machine.”

To learn more about the respiratory care program at Southern State Community College, informational sessions will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, and 10 a.m., Friday, March 11, in the Community Center on Southern State’s Fayette Campus, 1270 U.S. Route 62 SW, Washington C.H. Topics to be covered include pre-entrance requirements, job outlook, clinical requirements and more. RSVP to Toby Gavin at 740-333-5115, ext. 5622, or tgavin@sscc.edu. Information is also available on the Southern State Community College web site at www.sscc.edu/academics/degrees/respiratory_care.htm.