TCL honors 37 health sciences students at its July pinning, recognition ceremony
On Thursday, July 24, hundreds of proud friends and family members packed the Technical College of the Lowcountry auditorium to recognize 37 graduates of TCL’s Massage Therapy, Surgical Technology, Practical Nursing and Radiologic Technology programs.
The pinning and award ceremony allows students to receive the respective pins for their profession while being recognized by faculty, staff, friends, and family.
The ceremony also includes the pinning, pledges and graduation traditions unique to each program.
For example, the nursing tradition involves lighting a lamp which dates back to Florence Nightingale who carried a lamp to light her path as she cared for the sick and dying soldiers during the Crimean War.
“In modern times, the lamp represents the rite of passage. The nursing instructor is therefore passing the responsibility of caring for mankind to the new generation or nurses,” Nursing Program Director Sharon Beasley said.
During her speech, the Massage Therapy student speaker Kimberly Brown reflected on her time with classmates and instructors throughout the year-long program.
“Whether it was our trips in between classes to pick up snacks, having picnics in the grass, singing all over campus to ‘let it go’ or studying long hours in the library, we were always there for one another and now we made it,” Brown said.
After completing these Health Science programs, graduates will pursue licensing and become healthcare professionals in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, physician offices, assisted living facilities, schools and more. Others will choose to continue their education.
Practical Nursing graduate Samantha Macias is choosing to do both.
“The program at TCL was a great stepping stone towards my future career. I plan to become a licensed practical nurse and start applying for jobs while continuing my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing,” Macias said.
In the last five years, TCL has graduated about 500 health care professionals, many of whom are now employed right here in the Lowcountry.
“TCL’s health sciences programs, all of which are nationally accredited, are vigorous and demanding but produce extremely qualified and successful graduates,” Health Sciences Dean Marge Sapp said. “This is exactly why they are so highly sought after by health care employers here and across the country.”
Massage Therapy
Kala Barco – Colleton County, SC
Kimberly Brown – Chatham County, GA
Matthew Craven – Beaufort County, SC
Olivia Garza – Beaufort County, SC
Jeannice Laguerre – Beaufort County, SC
Cathy Lortie – Beaufort County, SC
Tavaras Pickney – Beaufort County, SC
Jauve Rose – Beaufort County, SC
Julie Roth – Beaufort County, SC
Courtney Williams – Jasper County, SC
Sarah Woods – Jasper County, SC
Practical Nursing
Ami Boni – Beaufort County, SC
Stephanie Brown- Beaufort County, SC
Justin Dooley- Beaufort County, SC
Katrina Drissen-Parker- Beaufort County, SC
Tammy Fernandez- Effingham County, SC
Samantha Macias- Beaufort County, SC
Judith Mendoza- Beaufort County, SC
Radiology Technology
Shannon Brock – Beaufort County, SC
Nichole Goodrich – Beaufort County, SC
Charles Wilson – Beaufort County, SC
Richard Vassale –Beaufort County, SC
Jamey Shock – Colleton County, SC
Tomika Saunders – Beaufort County, SC
Brenda Medina – Beaufort County, SC
Takia Williams – Beaufort County, SC
Tyler Wester – Beaufort County, SC
Wendy Bader – Beaufort County, SC
Surgical Technology
Jennifer Archbell – Beaufort County, SC
Candice Harris – Beaufort County, SC
Tushmbay, Jackson – Hampton County, SC
Dionne Johnson – Chatham County, GA
Alicia Law – Jasper County, SC
Holly Milligan – Beaufort County, SC
Amanda Munn – Colleton County, SC
Amy VanBeekom – Beaufort County, SC
Tanzania Williams – Colleton County, SC
