Fifteen Nursing Assistants honored at CCC pinning ceremony Monday

Coahoma Community College’s new Nursing Assistant graduates honored at a pinning ceremony at the Allied Health Center Monday are (front row from left) Mikela Lindsey of Clarksdale; Melanie Johnson of Clarksdale; Thypence Jenkins of Shelby; Jessica Houston

Fifteen new Nursing Assistant graduates were honored at a pinning ceremony Monday at Coahoma Community College’s Allied Health Training Center.

“Your life will never be the same, because you will be caring for people in their time of need,” said Beverly Overton, director of CCC’s practical nursing program.

Presiding at the ceremony, Overton congratulated the group and said their next career step would be passing the certification exam.

Composed of 18 to 24-year-old North Mississippi students, the CCC program was funded by a Kellogg grant with input from Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center providing shadowing opportunities and focus groups organized by Delta State University.

Graduates included Chasidy Buckley of Walls; Tamara Burnett, Latonya Greer, and Chiquitta Wright, all of Webb; Jessica Houston of Lyon; Maria Jackson, Melanie Johnson, Melissa Johnson, Dwylette Jones, Mikela Lindsey, and Lisa Marbley, all of Clarksdale; Thypence Jenkins, Konesia Pelts, Davetta Powell, and Tarsheena Smith, all of Shelby.

Wendy Harris, CCC practical nursing administrative assistant, opened the ceremony with a prayer, and graduates received pins and certificates from Overton, Hattie Driver and Angela White, both nursing assistant instructors.

Following the ceremony, graduates, their families, and faculty were treated by the Kellogg Foundation to a catered lunch.