SANFORD - More than 290 people are the most recent graduates of the Central Carolina Community College's Division of Economic and Community Development Continuing Education Medical Programs, which held its graduation on May 25 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

The certificate areas include Cardiovascular Monitor Technician, Central Sterile Processing, Nurse Aide I, Nurse Aide II, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Physical Therapy Aide, and Sleep Disorder Technician.

Student graduation speakers were Stacey Reyesmejia (representing Chatham County medical programs graduates), Kathryn McIlmurray (representing Harnett County medical programs graduates), and Lauren Brown (representing Lee County medical programs graduates).

Reyesmejia, a Nurse Aide II graduate, told her fellow graduates, "We should all embrace our future with open arms, because the future holds our dreams and aspirations. Today we have just chipped the tip of the iceberg to bring those dreams to fruition. As we continue to learn, embrace the constant changes, knowing that you are an instrument in your patients' lives that cares."

McIlmurray, a Nurse Aide I graduate, said, "I know that there are many residents who need a good caregiver. Someone like me who's understanding, caring, and not just there for a paycheck. ... Why not do what I love? Be there for those who need it."

Brown, a Nurse Aide I graduate, said, "Nursing is a popular career to go into, and everyone has their own stories and reasons for why they chose this path. For me, I decided to be a nurse after I was a pediatric patient recovering from two major shoulder blade surgeries my freshman and sophomore year. During my time as a patient, my nurses encouraged me, motivated me, and inspired me. From that point on, I knew that nursing was for me because I, too, want to be able to help people get through rough times."

As the graduates' names were called, they walked across the stage to receive their certificates from Dr. T. Eston Marchant, CCCC President, and Dr. Pamela Senegal, CCCC Vice President of Economic and Community Development.

Following the graduation, class members met their families and friends in the Civic Center foyer for hugs and more picture taking.

CCCC's Coordinators of Medical Programs are Sandra Hurley in Lee County, Heike Johnson in Chatham County, and Lennie Stephenson in Harnett County.

For more information about Continuing Education medial programs, call Lennie Stephenson, CCCC's Director of Continuing Education medical programs, at 910-814-8833 or email lstephenson@cccc.edu.

Pictures from the commencement exercises can be downloaded at www.cccc.edu.