Makenzie Cantrell, left, and Maylen Fantocone, were recognized with awards at the pinning ceremony for the Wallace State Community College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Class of 2018.
HANCEVILLE – The 30 students who started the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Wallace State Community College less than 18 months ago were recognized recently for their successful completion during a pinning ceremony held in the auditorium of the James C. Bailey Center.
Program director April Sutherland credited the class’s success to their positivity and unity.
“They have been united as a positive force from the first semester,” Sutherland said. Though the program traditionally achieves high student outcomes, “this is the first year that all 30 students that we started have made it to graduation. I believe a large part of that is due to your positive attitude and working together as a family.”
The class also accomplished a 100 percent pass rate for their physics registry, marking the fourth year for the program in that regard. Of the 30 students graduating, 28 have already passed their Abdominal Sonography registry and 24 of those have passed their Obstetrics and Gynecological Sonography registry.
“I am truly in awe of these graduates,” said Donna Attaway, the program’s clinical coordinator. “You’ve all worked so hard, faced many challenges and made huge sacrifices to get to this point. I would like you to know how proud I am of you.”
“We did it,” said class president Ashton Gaddy of Jacksonville, quoting Reese Witherspoon’s character in the movie “Legally Blonde,” before noting many of the things they’ve experienced over the last four semesters, from how to hold a probe and hit buttons at the same time, to taking exams, sacrificing exercise and television time to study, completing those registries, and examining patients during clinicals.
“This program has been worth it all,” Gaddy said.
Students recognized with special awards included Makenzie Cantrell of Falkville as the class valedictorian, and Maylen Fantocone of Decatur as the winner of the Sonography Student Award for Clinical Excellence.
Class officers Maleah Fuller, of Trinity, and Gracie George, of Hartselle, presented a check for $1,000 to the Summer Sonography Scholarship Fund on behalf of the class.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Wallace State can be completed in four semesters, after two semesters of prerequisite courses. The program accepts new students each fall, with applications accepted from March 1 to June 1 each year.
