Sanford Regional Technical Center held its Health Occupations Pinning Ceremony on Tuesday, May 27th at the Sanford Performing Arts Center, celebrating a group of students who have achieved an extraordinary milestone in their healthcare education journey.
SRTC Assistant Director Mike Redmond welcomed families and friends to the ceremony, expressing pride in both the students and their instructors, Jenna Holmes and Shawnda Williams.
What made this year's ceremony particularly special was an unprecedented accomplishment: every single Health Occupations student passed their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) state board exams. Williams noted that this perfect pass rate may be a first in the program's history, calling it "a huge accomplishment."
"I'm proud to share that each and every one of these students you see tonight have passed their state board exams, and I don't know if that's ever happened," Williams said.
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The journey to this moment required tremendous commitment from the students. Beyond the coursework, students also navigated the complex process of obtaining state certification, including background checks, proper documentation, and registry applications. By the ceremony date, eight or nine students had already received their official CNA registry status, with more expected to follow.
Williams, who along with Holmes developed a new curriculum as first-year instructors, praised the students for their patience, kindness, and flexibility throughout the learning process. "There is no doubt, in many ways, you have taught me just as much as I have taught you, if not more, thank you. I'm very grateful," Williams said.
The pinning ceremony itself carries deep significance in healthcare education. As Williams explained to the graduates, their pins represent far more than program completion. "As you receive your pins today, please remember that they symbolize more than just the completion of this program. They represent your entry into a field where compassion, skill and integrity will change lives, yours and those you're caring for."
Williams emphasized the crucial role these new CNAs will play in healthcare, telling them, "You are now the eyes, ears and heart of patient care for the most vulnerable people. This is an essential part of the health care team, and I would venture to say maybe even the most important."
Congratulations to the following students: Shawnda Williams, RN, BSN, MSN, FNP
AM Students: Elise Abbott, Jewels Benjamin Johnson, Lexi Littlefield, Natalie Darling, Everett Hammond, Ellie Hughes, Faith Huston, Anna Jordan, Marissa Nelson, Clovy Robinson, Olivia Sillsby, Natalia Thibeault, Kadden Veilleux, Megan Walker, Rory White, Kallie Winn
PM Students: Jaclyn Arnold, Lydia Beaupre, Noah Brown, Ariah Doyer, Aubrey Kimball, Kaylee Marr, Alyssa Moore, Madison Nadeau, Gianna Sibya, Ava Skidds, Eleanor Thibault
Jenna Holmes, RN, BSN
AM Students: Hayden Bouffard, Bianca Carranza-Molina, Anyea Edelman, Zachery Elkins, Zoye Holbrook, Savannah Knight, Natalie Lam, Mia Mayer, Anna McCormack, Aliza McKenney, Mycuelynne Murray, Lilly Peterson, Gianna Richards, Yusly Rodriguez Marroquin, Kylie Stevens, Kelsie Strong, Sara York
PM Students: Devenny Brickett, Kyla Creighton, Candice Daigle, Lila Fiel, Audrey Holmquist, Navaeh Lussier, Samantha Morgan, Alyssa Plante, Abigail Spencer, Meghan Taggart, Emma Wiggin