The 2020 Class of Columbus Technical College’s Radiologic Technology program has a lot to be proud of these days. Every student passed the rigorous American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) exam on the first try, officially making them Registered Radiologic Technologists. This co-hort of 14 students overcame numerous obstacles during their year-and-a-half long journey that began in January of 2019; all but one student finished the program in May of this year. Some challenges this class faced included their program director retiring, their primary instructor being sidelined with serious health issues, and most especially the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt on face-to-face instruction and learning in a clinical environment. The program director for Radiologic Technology, Kimberly Whitaker, could not be more proud of this class and the determination they showed.
(Photo taken pre-COVID)
Front row (left to right): Sara Boyd, Amy Tran, Ally Tew and Kylie Harris. Middle row: Taylor Tuggle, Catelyn Wright, Taylor Davis, Kaycee Crapps, Emily Miller and Jessica Hensley. Top row: Myles St. Clair, Whitney Arce, Polly Kozee and Shawn Bedgood.
“I’m just so thankful these students had the drive and desire to make it happen,” Whitaker said. “When we had to abruptly go to online learning, we’d be meeting virtually at night time, sometimes in our pajamas, doing whatever it took. They were there every step of the way.”
A few of the students are returning to Columbus Tech for post-graduate certifications in either computed tomography or mammography programs. Whitaker says most of the students are either already employed or will be soon.
“I have every confidence that this group will have a 100 percent in-field job placement rate,” Whitaker said. “I know they’ll all be successful and deserve every opportunity that comes their way.”
Congratulations to all!