SKYCTC holds annual Allied Health ‘Going Pro’ Award Ceremony

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. –  Wednesday afternoon, the teachers and faculty members of the Allied Health programs at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College held their annual “Going Pro” Ceremony.

The event honors the accomplishments of the students while also giving them the chance to sign on at their new jobs, similar to high school students signing on to their new college.

The annual event sees all Allied Health programs gathering to award SKYCTC students for their hard work over the time in their respective programs as they prepare for the next phase of their healthcare careers.

The final part of the event is the “Going Pro” portion, where students will officially sign on to their new jobs, similar to a high school athlete signing their letter of intent.

SKYCTC started this a couple of years ago to give their students another way to celebrate the next steps in their journey.

Most college athletes will make their commitment to a facility. Now with health care, that’s the same thing. When students graduate, they have options on where to get jobs.” Said Lori Slaughter, Radiography Professor at SKYCTC. We just use it as a celebration of them getting a job at the facility. And the facilities, they were all in when we asked them to do it,” Slaughter added.

The awards given at the event are voted on by students and faculty alike, and students aren’t aware of the awards they receive.

Jesus Diaz would receive the top award voted on by the entire class, something that truly came as a shock to him.

The ceremony allows each student to celebrate their peers and what they’ve achieved, no matter if their route was traditional or not.

“I’m 30 years old, so I’m a little untraditional. And so, going to college, I didn’t even think I could do it. And so now, you know, I’m about to graduate. So it’s it’s an unreal feeling,” Diaz said.

For the teachers and faculty, the ceremony serves as a moment of pride and joy as they are with these students every step of the way from when they arrive to when they go pro.

It is a proud moment for the teachers, seeing the joy on their students’ faces as their names are called each year.

When they’re announcing the students, the faculty know who it is. I kind of gear my eyes toward them so I can actually want to see their facial expression, because again, when they first get into the college, the students, they’re not necessarily lost, but it’s kind of overwhelming. But then now, you know, it’s a two-year program here toward the end, I truly enjoy seeing that sense of  accomplishment,” Slaughter stated.

List of individual honors:

Academic Excellence
Recognizing students who achieved the highest program GPA

• Medical Information Technology – Clay Avery, Warren County
• Medical Laboratory Technology – Yamilet Bruno, Warren County
• Radiography – Yuridia Sanchez Neblina, Butler County
• Respiratory Care – Ashley Pentecost, Logan County
• Surgical Technology – Darrien Stone, Simpson County

Clinical Excellence
Recognizing students with the highest level of clinical proficiency

• Medical Laboratory Technology – April Saldana, Barren County
• Radiography – Hannah Brown, Logan County
• Respiratory Care – Malliea Copas, Allen County
• Surgical Technology – Harley Chapman, Warren County

Excellence in Leadership
Recognizing students who demonstrate outstanding leadership and integrity

• Medical Information Technology – Bonnie Jean Holder, Allen County
• Medical Laboratory Technology – Stacey Illenye, Barren County
• Radiography – Ella Belcher Carter, Simpson County
• Respiratory Care – Arial Brown, Warren County
• Surgical Technology – Halee Reeves, Warren County

Overall Program Excellence
Recognizing students for excellence in academics, clinical performance, and integrity

• Medical Information Technology – Samantha Baker, Warren County
• Medical Laboratory Technology – Tori Thompson, Marion County
• Radiography – Jesus Diaz, Warren County
• Respiratory Care – Melissa Downey, Warren County
• Surgical Technology – Katie Hunter, Simpson County

Overall Allied Health Winner
Recognizing the top student across all Allied Health programs

• Jesus Diaz – Radiography, Warren County
• Professional Mentor Awards
• Honoring mentors selected by students for their exceptional support and guidance
• Medical Information Technology – Jean Allen Ellington, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Owenton, KY
• Medical Laboratory Technology – Jacci McKinnis, The Medical Center at Russellville
• Radiography – Bri Dunlap, The Medical Center at Bowling Green
• Respiratory Care – Blake Brown, The Medical Center at Bowling Green
• Surgical Technology – Lisa Bowersox, TriStar Greenview