Seven students have become new WCA Hospital School of Medical Technology graduates.
A graduation ceremony was held Friday afternoon in the hospital's auditorium. The short ceremony included remarks from Jon E. Sundholm, clinical laboratory manager; Rev. Donald Ray, retired hospital chaplain; Michele G. Harms, program director for the School of Medical Technology; Janet L. McMillin-Jaszcz, clinical coordinator for the School of Medical Technology; Ronald Pittock, MT (ASCP), clinical chemistry supervisor; and P. Christian Yates, grants committee chair for the WCA Foundation.
"Every year it is my job to remind the graduates how all this happened," Harms said, as she began a speech reminiscing on the past year for the students.
Article Photos
The new graduates from WCA Hospital’s School of Medical Technology show off their certificates. Also pictured are Janet McMillin-Jaszcz, clinical coordinator, far left, and Michele G. Harms, program director, far right.
P-J photo by Liz Skoczylas
Each of the graduates already holds a degree from a four-year college. Over the course of the last 11 months, they have learned about phlebotomy, parasitology, immunology, hematology and more.
"Everyone realized that this whole year was going to be full of fast-paced crash courses," Harms said.
Following Harms' speech, the graduates watched a short slideshow set to music, reflecting on the things that they have accomplished in less than a year.
"You have been given the knowledge and the tools. The rest of the work, from here on, comes from you," McMillin-Jaszcz told the students during her faculty recognition speech.
Pittock offered words of wisdom to the graduates in the form of a poem, complete with rhymes.
"Be known for your integrity. Be known, too, for your skill. Work with pride and confidence. And, I know, my friends, you will," Pittock said.
The seven graduates from the School of Medical Technology were Christine Chudzinski from Canisius College; Laura Kobielski from SUNY Brockport; Jessica Reed from Elmira College; Nicholas Perez from SUNY Fredonia; Meryl Roush from SUNY Fredonia; Victoria Wilcox from SUNY Fredonia; and Steven Wollaber from SUNY Geneseo.
Each student was awarded a certificate by Brenda Ireland, chair for the WCA Hospital Board of Directors, and a class pin by McMillin-Jaszcz.
Also awarded during the ceremony was the Murray S. Marsh Outstanding Student Award. The award, along with $500, was presented to Laura Kobielski.