430 students crossed the Owens Auditorium stage at Sandhills Community College (SCC) on Thursday, December 11, to receive their diplomas, licenses, or certifications in high-demand careers that will fuel economic sustainability for the region and the state. Nine students were among the first to graduate in the Ophthalmology Assistant program offered in partnership with Carolina Eye Associates.
The processional was led by Bill Caudill and the Southern Pines Fire Department, and the invocation was offered by Michelle Bauer, Vice Provost. Dr. Sandy “Alexander” Stewart, President, presided over the ceremony and awarded the certifications, licenses, and diplomas, as well as closing remarks. Dean Ed Spitler presented the candidates for their deserving honors. In addition, SCC Trustee William Richard Maness congratulated each student crossing the stage.
“Your accomplishments today are about your determination, grit, and perseverance,” said President Stewart. “Today we honor your commitment to better yourselves and better our community. Citizens of our community need you – in the healthcare settings, driving semi trucks, supporting electrical, plumbing, and HVAC needs. We thank you for the contributions you will bring to our region.”
Student keynote speakers were Samuel West in the morning ceremony and Amy Lynn in the afternoon ceremony.
West obtained his high school equivalency (HSE) after dropping out of high school for a drug addiction and losing a parent to drug addiction. He praised the Lord for helping him realize support in the community, including SCC for its substance abuse recovery program and the caring team at SCC to earn his HSE. “With the support I got at SCC and earning my degree, I am now able to work in my step-dad’s business and contribute to society. I feel very blessed and look forward to being a contributor to our community now.”
In the afternoon ceremony, Lynn said, “I like to refer to myself as an eternal student. I went to college and got a bachelor’s, and wanted a master’s after starting a family. My family has always supported me with my endeavors, especially my husband. Five years after my last round of schooling, I decided to start the nurse aid program at SCC to understand how to better support my family. The high quality and affordable education offered at SCC made the decision easy and has helped me balance work and family. I did not anticipate learning so much, but it offered just what I needed. Now more than ever, I feel inspired to pursue a nursing education. The staff were encouraging and inspiring, preparing us with certifiable training for the next step of our lives. We are here because we embraced the opportunity to learn with courage and a growth mindset.”
This is the first class of Ophthalmology Assistants to graduate since the program was revised with the assistance of Carolina Eye Associates and new faculty. The program was led by Brittany Rodriguez, instructor, and Dr. Fakadej from Carolina Eye Associates, serving as the program’s medical director. Jacklyn Pepich BS, RHIA, CMA, serves as the Director of Healthcare Training WCE. Over approximately four months, students gained the skills and preparation needed to sit for the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant exam and help meet workforce demand in our region.
College and Career Readiness Graduates
English Language Acquisition
Efrain Cardozo, Florence Duvin Odent, Mileyka Milagros Cruz Vargas, Hellen Mendes, Oliveira Barducchi, Rutty Raquel, Rivera Jazzlin Zitlaly, Sanchez Vasquez, Oleg Vdovenko
High School Equivalency
Viviana Cox*, Elizabeth Eddy, Hannah Griffes, McKayla Jacobs, Paloma James, Angelina Lamm, Melissa Pleasant, Jackson Reeder, Reaghan Richards, Noah Russell*, Rudy Salgado-Perez*, Onnanisha Simmons*, Samuel West*
U.S. Citizenship Prep
Britta Bayer Douglas, Mayra Edilma Lucero, Maria Elvira Bello, Yvonne Irene Boley, Carol Lizeth Hough, Jieun Moon, Yessenia Jazmin Rojas Lopez, Luis Angel Tontle Castro
Automotive and Transportation
CDL Truck Driver Training
Grace-Anne Vredenburg, Collin Armstrong, Kiandre Berryman, Brayden Cook, Juan Castillo, Cody Davis, Dalton Donathan, Jordan Douglas, John Evans, Lydell Corey Ewing, Dakota Graham, Darius Jackson, Robert McRae, Linda Simonton, Jay Spartz, Jonathan Rodriguez, Vernon Washington
Construction and Trades
Electrical Level I
Kaycia Best, Aldred Cagle, Stephone Covington, Kenton Dull, Jae Hawksworth, Christopher Hernandez Jimenez, George Mitchell, Scott Pedersen, Vasyl Pidopryhora, Carlos Santos-Esquivel, Katy Simutis, Aaron Stevens, Todd Tilton, Melvin Valdez Gonzalez, Benjamin Vazquez, Ashton Walden
Electrical Level II
Jackson Chestnut, Matthew Locklear, Christian Newman, Todd Tilton
HVAC Level 1
Stephen Bowden, Travon Davenport, Efrain Hernandez, Jabrea Holmes, Josue Jimenez-Paso, Jonathan Locklear, Jose Matheu, Thaaddeus Morgan, Mason Owens, Herlinda Patterson, Cole Schrier, Geoffrey Smerdon, Clayton Stevens, Nelius Van Niekerk, Emir Vargas, Jerry White, Adrian Wright
HVAC Level II
Daniel Aaron, Brenen Acosta Troches, Maximus Chavez, Joshua Dew, Noah Dorsey, William McIntosh, Anthony McLeod, Boyd Miller, Cory Rogers, Devin Rogers, Ismerlin Santos-Eulogio, Jesus Tolentino-Nill
Plumbing Level I
Renee Astphan, Jared Bo, Jeffrey Boan, Christopher Faircloth, Matthew Garner, Elish Green, Kamar Isaac, Adam Maness, Matt Miller, Simeon Peterkin, Mike Seaman, Erik Sutton, Todd Tilton
Plumbing Level II
Murphy Barnes, Andrew Delatorre, Harrison Hafer, Noah Lehmann, Jonathan Muse
Healthcare
Central Sterile Processing
Brian Bacon, Tantania Blue, Luis Lugo, Toria Malachi, Davionna Campbell, Samantha Dunn, Tagina Fleet, Brittany Gaddy, Kenee Gaddy, Allison Hamlin, Erica Hamilton, Katrice Heard, Whitney Hollingsworth, Monica Jones, Sharlias Jones, Tynikia Little, Iquashia McAuthur, Sheylin McGuinness, Jason McNeill, Joshua Mitchell, Jennifer Molina-Garcia, Lizbet Molina-Garcia, Cathy Monroe, Djannie Paul, Shayla Robinson, Laresha Ross, Brooklyn Smith, Sonia Soto, Hannah Tyner
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant
Aniyah Baldwin, Shavonda Brooks, Kayla Burney, Aniya Colston, Sherlyn Cruz-Ricardez, Jasmyn Diaz Garcia, Alba Dominguez-Acosta, Zraiyah Douchette, Alicia Dyle, Ja’teyvionah Ford, Jazmin Gonzalez, Sakina Hamilton, Shontanica Howard Barber, Alainah Jackson, Jocelyn Jacobs, Mia Jardine, Reyna Jimenez Cortes, Heydi Leana, Theresa Leroy, Jazmin Locklear, Kansas Locklear, Griselda Loida-Cortes, Priscila MacHuca, Noah Marshburn, Egypt McLean, Katrina McLean, Zymeira Monroe, Zariah Montgomery, Angele Perez- Miranda, Anna Pettitt, Allissa Phillips, Whitley Richardson, Stephanie Singer, Montashia Smith, Pamela Smith, Latesha Taylor
Clinical Medical Assistant
Leah Franklin, Camila Grijalva, Iris Hernandez, Amy Johnson, Jaquena McKoy, Reagan Michael, Joselyn Rodriguez Catalan, Buchellia Ross
EKG technician
Arianna Albino, Saniya Allen, Taylor Bosworth, Breanna Brewer, Valentina Callaham, Davionna Campbell, Kerem Campos Vasquez, Tamia Capel, Samantha Cerqueira, Heather Collins, Aniya Colston, Zeline Corona, Lativia Crichlow, Matthew Cummings, Ivette Davis, Jasmyn Diaz Garcia, Jasmine Douglas, Paris Douglas, Zraiyah Douchette, Desaraye Edwards, Melissa Forehand, Diana Gomez, Jessica Getz, Omari Goodman, Shenna Graham, Jayda Jimenez, Leani Johnson, Lisa Jordan, Colette Leber, Angela Lemons, Tyrus Liles, Ashley Lobo-Villeda, Kansas Locklear, Nyla Locklear, Patricia Maldonado, Noah Marshburn, Bailey Mass, Tiffanie Martin, Nia McCoy, Katherine McDonald, Ivion McDougald, Amnetta McNair, Cheyenne Morante, Veronica Morman, Zymeira Monroe, Cesar Moscoso, Ja’kari Murchison, Anna Parra, Amber Peak, Julisa Perdomo Gomez, Bethany Pena, Angeles Perez- Miranda, Traci Phurrough, Traci Ratliff, Odalis Rodriguez-Morales, Tenasia Roseboro, Nikeaira Ryans, Byron Shelton, Dionecia Smith-Kershaw, Terae Southerland-Brown, Ananda Thomas, Keishla Thomas, Yoshua Wallace, Nevaeh Watts
Medical Billing and Coding
Josielyn Adriano, Timika Baldwin, Georgia Bibey, Kristin Blair, Jackie Boone, Lakenya Bowden, Shavonda Brooks, Shanice Brown-Gayle, Marleese Cameron, Frances Davenport, Kenneth Dial, Cassandra Dowdy, Latita Figgs, Pamela Fincher, Tiara Hill, Shontanica Howard Barber, Diamond Gilbert, Kayla Goines, Ashanti Harris, Lisa Jordan, Jessica Lattimore, Canvas Locklear, Nyla Locklear, Inesha Loyd, Megan McDaniel, Nia McCoy, Helen McQueen-Hocker, Jacqueise Oliver, Rhonda Powell, Tammy Sawyer, Shanna Smalley, Pamela Smith, Tequila Thomas, Nia McCoy, Kimberly Worthy
Medical Terminology & A&P
Hannah Clarke, Rhinnan Dedrick-Webster, Kenneth Dial, Pamela Fincher, Kimberly Godin, Kayla Goines, Cley Hilario-Patricio,
Inesha Loyd, Kirsten Jones, Aniya Langhorne, Savannah McDonald, Zion Morales, Jordan Parraway, Tamika Reese, Cieara Velazquez
NC Community Health Worker
Kimberly Godin, Shirley Hart, Angie Locklear, Alveda Person, Tang Qun, Tracey Williams
Nurse Aide Level I
Yahaira Arroyo, Dana Bethea, Savanna Brock, Camille Broussard, Emilianne Carter, Asucena Casas Salinas, Ka-Shariea Colley, Haley Covington, Lilly Deese, Meghan Fowles, Angela Gaudet, Jade Headen, Iris Hernandez, Rebecca Hunt, Dshaunna Jones, William Leak, Amy Lynn, Emily Martin, Lakendria McNeil, Christal Mireles-Olivares, Aubriee Noland, Carolyn O’Connell, Angele Perez Miranda, Christina Sheets, Amiera Rice, Emmaleigh Russell, Jesus Villalba Barrozo, Rebecca Vinson, Ashley Winters, Khayla Woodlief, Jaedyn Woods
Nurse Aile Level II
Laura Hammonds, Teresa Simmons
Ophthalmology Assistant
Yolanda Alfaro, Twanda Covington, Linda Edwards, Ralph Elia, Aragon Guillermo, Aubrey Hicks, Luretha McAllister, Breanna Prevatte, Desmond Worthy
Pharmacy Technician
Nana Biritwum, Brynne Burlingame, Valerie Diaz, Ouieda Hooker, Leela Lockey, Sylvia Maddox, Breonna McLean, Stephanie Palafox, Sury Santos, Shana Waddell
Phlebotomy Technician
Kyra Adams, Donna Blakley, Tina Brown, Sara Carlson, Charlita Brown, D’Erica Davis, Shania Everett, Anthony Felipe, Jessica Getz, Teresa Hall, Sha’leise Harris, Devyani Haye, Jamie Jamerson, Enecia James, Lisbeth Lopez Garcia, Nikita Lyles, Brianna Marsh, Danielle McKay, Rasheena McRae, Aaliyah Miller, Malaysia Morrisey, Kadence O’Hara, Janiya Peterkin, Jenna Polston, Sebastian Richmond, Jamonica Roudy, Aubrey Roy, Katrina Shaw, Kimberly Titus, Brooke Tran, Andrea White, Amber Zirkle
Information Technology
CompTIA A+
Tiffany Barber, Jeremiah Britt, Jody Britt, Mark Covington, Nicolas Durand, Jeremiah Faumuina, Robin Fox, Shevon McCollum, Jimme Patterson, Brady Pratte, Zachary Prevatte, Cameron Quinn, Logan Sarlo, Robert Sarlo, Dominick Smith, Jill Stepanian, Kaitlyn Tillison, Brandon Wiltshire
Landscape & Gardening
USGA Greenskeeper and Apprenticeship Program
Ryan Braybrook, Patrick Byers, Charles Dismore, Peter Ferguson, Stephen Hartsell, Brooke Heikkila, Jaechond Ingram, Ryan Kells, Grayson Leebert, Michael Moneymaker, Liam Nicol, Jackson Pardue, Joshua Player, Thomas Ring, Rufus Sanford, Matthew Schoemmell, Todd Walker, Andrew White
Public Safety
EM-Paramedic
Kenna McIntire
Fire Academy
Evelyn Sheilds-Cowley, Jonathan Esteves, Jeremiah Faumuina, Preston Foote*, Yatzier Fuentes, Conner Funderburk, Juliana Harms, Antonio Morris, Gavin Pringle*, Easton Ryser, Can Scott
Special Awards, recognitions, and scholarships were presented and noted with an asterisk (*), including:
National Adult Education Honor Society (NAEHS) – established to recognize and celebrate the achievements of exceptional adult education students.
The Sam and Hazel Petty Scholarship – established in 2011 by Mrs. Fredricka Proveaux, this scholarship honors the memory of her mother, Hazel C. Petty, and her brother, Sam C. Petty. Hazel earned her GED from Sandhills Community College, while Sam not only earned his GED but also graduated from a community college. This award celebrates their accomplishments and the lasting impact of their lives. Each year, the scholarship is presented at the College and Career HSE Graduation ceremony, with one recipient chosen from Moore County and another from Hoke County. The Sam and Hazel Petty Scholarship winners at this ceremony were Viviana Cox from Hoke and Noah Russell from Moore.
Commitment to Excellence in Coding – this award honors a student who has exemplified unwavering dedication, precision, and professionalism throughout the Medical Billing and Coding program.
Commitment to Excellence in Phlebotomy – this award recognizes a student who has demonstrated exceptional skill, professionalism, and dedication throughout the Phlebotomy Technician program.
Fire Academy Valedictorian Award – this award is presented to the student who demonstrates the highest academic achievement in both the Firefighter and HazMat portions of the program.
Corbin Rogers Leadership Award Fire Academy Valedictorian Award – this award is presented to the student who demonstrates the highest academic achievement in both the Firefighter and HazMat portions of the program. Corbin Rogers joined the Carthage Fire Department in 2018, shortly after graduating from Union Pines High School. He earned his firefighter certifications through the Sandhills Community College Fire Academy and went on to serve part-time with the Carthage Fire Department and full-time with the Spring Lake Fire Department. This award is given in memory of Corbin Rogers and is voted on by fellow students. It honors the individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership throughout the Sandhills Fire Academy.
A special thanks was delivered to the instructors, directors and coordinators, administrative staff and to the family members, friends, and loved ones of the graduates for their encouragement, patience, and unwavering belief that have been the foundation of their student’s journey.
To learn more about the Workforce Continuing Education classes and programs, please visit: https://www.sandhills.edu/programs/all-programs.html
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Article and photo contributed by Sandhills Community College.
