WELDON — Halifax Community College held an Associate Degree Dental Hygiene and Associate Degree Nursing Graduates Pinning ceremony for the class of 2009 on May 9. The ceremony was held after commencement exercises in The Centre.

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Dental hygiene instructor Catherine Sykes was the dental hygiene speaker. “Every week, I saw your patients motivated and educated about their health. You’ve changed lives here at Halifax Community College, not only in the Dental Hygiene clinic with your patients, but in this community,” said Sykes. “All the lessons you learned were for your good. All of them were to build your character. All of them were to build you to be what God intended you to be.”

Biology instructor Terry Wheeler was the nursing speaker. He emphasized the need for a caring attitude in equal proportion to learned skills. “Few patients will ever remember how deftly you inserted an IV line or how well you inserted a catheter or how painlessly you gave an injection. What they will remember is if you say you care about them. Not only do patients remember that, so do patients” families. Caring must come from within yourself. Caring must come first,” said Wheeler.

Dental hygiene graduates were John V. Agar, Dana Allen, Cailey Auvil, Tracey Marie Bell, Melanie Nehrenberg Box, Laura Ashley Cottle, Kaylen Edwards, Shannon Frye, Diana Nicole Fairey, Adriann Lane Gray, Kimberly W. Harris, Conisha Shonta Rudd, Loretta Joann Spear, Brandy Turner, Christi Williford and Ashley Christine Winslow. Special awards were also presented to these graduates. Kimberly Harris was recognized for receiving the Academic Excellence Award from the North Carolina Community College System. The Golden Scaler Award was presented to Ashley Winslow. The N.C. Dental Hygiene Academy of Advanced Studies Award went to Shannon Frye. The Student Total Achievement Recognition or STAR went to Joann Spear. Conisha Rudd received the Professionalism Award.

Nursing graduates were Melissa S. Baker, Kathy F. Bradley, Jessica Fields Brown, Tenika D. Crew, Paula Shearin Elias, Ashley Strickland Griffies, Charles R. Miles Jr., Olivia Ashley Parks, Brittney D. Penfield, Jennifer L. Pilgreen, Renee D. Price, Misty Rowland, Jason A. Stokes, Aminty E. Whitaker, Shaketa D. Whitaker, Maria D. Whitney, Carol Bohanon Williams, Jimmy Williams and Sara H. Williams.