Submitted photo: Erica Canada, Isley Dennard, Destiney Dunbar, Crystal Gill, Kendar Hayes,  Tinaisha Huntington,  Sharday Mincey,  Damon Roberts,  Sierra Snow,  Hollie Stokley,  John Wakefield

THOMASVILLE — On December 1, 2022, eleven Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) Respiratory Care graduates were honored during a pinning ceremony held at SRTC-Thomasville. Joined by students’ families, friends, and Respiratory Care departmental managers representing the affiliate hospitals, the Respiratory Care program faculty at SRTC hosted the annual pinning ceremony in honor of the senior students in the class of 2022. These students completed two semesters of prerequisite coursework as well as four semesters of rigorous occupational coursework including a series of clinical rotations at local hospitals.

The graduates honored at the pinning were John Wakefield of Albany, Tinaisha Huntington of Auburn, AL, Kendar Hayes of Blakely, Hollie Stokley of Cairo, Damon Roberts of Chula, Sierra Snow of Quitman, Crystal Gill of Tallahassee, Destiney Dunbar and Sharday Mincey of Thomasville, Isley Dennard of Tifton, and Erica Canada of Valdosta. At the ceremony, faculty members recognized several students for exceptional achievement during their time in the respiratory program.

The Academic Award recognizes the student with the highest overall GPA as of the current semester. The recipient of this award is also an active member of the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). The recipient of the 2022 Academic Achievement Award is Tinaisha Huntington.

The Clinical Excellence Award honors a student who displayed outstanding performance in clinical rotations. The recipient has demonstrated motivation, reliability, and a passion for respiratory care. The recipient of the 2022 Clinical Excellence Award is Sharday Mincey.

The Ambassador’s Award identifies the student who their peers view as the most outstanding student in their cohort. This is the individual that the class feels would best represent a positive image of the class, program, and college. The recipient of the 2022 Ambassador’s Award is Erica Canada

“I am incredibly proud of this class. As their instructor, I have the utmost confidence in each individual that they will be successful members of the Respiratory Care profession. These graduates will represent our college well as they continue to grow in their respective careers,” commented SRTC’s Respiratory Care Program Chair Miranda Mccoy.

Upon successful completion of programmatic Self- Assessment Examinations (SAE), these students will be eligible to sit for National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing exams to obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.

Registered Respiratory Therapists are specialized in the care of patients of all ages with cardiopulmonary disorders. Graduates of the Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Care, who obtain the RRT credential are also eligible to sit for additional specialty credentialing exams including Neonatal Pediatric Specialist, Critical Care Specialist, Pulmonary Function Technologist, Sleep Disorder Specialist, and Certified Asthma Educator. According to statistics provided in the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, the demand for respiratory therapists continues to increase, parallel to increases in pre-term birth rates and growing numbers of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease, asthma, and sleep disordered breathing.

SRTC offers over 130 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get you quickly into your desired career, and 28 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties for the convenience of our students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to www.southernregional.edu.

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