Lower Lake >> Students, families and staff gathered in Lower Lake on Friday to celebrate 15 graduates of the Medical Assistant (MA) program offered through the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE).
Tim Gill, senior director of the career and college readiness and dducational services departments, welcomed the crowd of more than 100 and speaker William Edmunds, associate pastor for the Cobb Mountain Community Fellowship Church, coordinator of the International Association of Healing Rooms, and director of Healing Rooms in Lake County, shared words of wisdom with the students.
Dr. Vernetta Johnson, medical director and physician of Creekside Interventional Pain Center in Lakeport, addressed the graduates to stress the importance of compassion and integrity in health care.
Instructor Diedra Lagle praised the students’ dedication and compassion in their quest to become MAs. Each student was presented with a personalized certificate and lamp pendant in honor of Florence Nightingale and her tireless crusade to improve the quality of healthcare during her career as a nurse.
Graduate Elizabeth Quiñones shared her personal experience in the MA program followed by the speeches of co-valedictorians Lindsay McClintock and Jeff Banks.
Certificates of completion were presented to the graduates by LCOE Coordinator Norma Cromwell and Gill. Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg presented each student with an MA pin and closed the graduation ceremony by emphasizing the importance of LCOE continuing to offer programs that offer career opportunities in the community and congratulating the graduating class on their accomplishment.
Upon completion of the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) certification exams, all graduates will be Certified Medical Assistants and eligible to enter the work force in their profession.
For more information on the MA program, contact Cromwell at 994-9001, email ncromwell@lakecoe.org or visit lakecoe.org.
