On November 29, 2023, twelve Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) Respiratory Care graduates were honored during a pinning ceremony held at SRTC-Thomasville. Joined by students’ families, friends, and affiliate hospital representatives, the Respiratory Care program faculty at SRTC hosted the annual pinning ceremony in honor of the senior students. 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. In addition to the pinning ceremony, these students are eligible to participate in the college’s December 6 commencement ceremony at SRTC-Bainbridge.
The graduates honored were Andrella Arbeary of Cairo, Robyn Currington of Bronwood, Parker Faulkner of Thomasville, Kirstyn Harrell of Whigham, Maria Johnson of Pavo, Chontay Martin of Climax, Brittany Simmons of Valdosta, Morgan Strenth of Tifton, Ivy Tran of Meigs, Alexandria Turner of Tifton, Savanna Warren of Norman Park, and William Wynn of Moultrie. 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 2023 Academic Achievement Award is Ivy Tran.
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 2023 Clinical Excellence Award is Chontay Martin.
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 2023 Ambassador's Award is Kirstyn Harrell.
“It has been such a pleasure and an honor to have taught and worked with the 2023 Respiratory Care graduates in the classroom, labs and clinics. We have taught and learned from each other in so many different ways. It warms my heart that they have made it to the end without giving up. They have accomplished so much during this journey, and I hope they continued to prosper even more on their future endeavors,” commented SRTC’s Respiratory Care Clinical Coordinator D’Nena Stevens.
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 specialize in providing patient care for individuals of all age groups who have 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 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 150 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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