By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

Scott Lephart, Dean of the College of Health Sciences, decided to do something a little different at Thursday’s Medical Laboratory Science Pinning Ceremony & Reception for the Class of 2022.

He gave the students one last assignment — he asked them to stand and recognize the friends and family who had come to congratulate them.

“You’ve finally made it,” Lephart told the 45 students who will graduate today. “You’re entering into a very noble profession. It’s time to move on and use the skills acquired in this program.”

The students turned and cheered for their loved ones. It was quite a way to wrap up an education.

The students received their pins and certificates in Ballroom C at the Gatton Student Center Thursday night, while they celebrated their journeys and looked ahead to what comes next.

“Our future is out there waiting for us,” said student speaker Owen Becker, who represented the Lexington campus. “Let’s go and enjoy this next chapter in our lives.”

Devona Begley, CLS, ASCP, graduated from the MLS program in 1998, and spoke to the graduates about the importance of their jobs. She illustrated the point by sharing a personal story of how, years ago while working at the blood bank at Baptist Health in Lexington, Begley assisted in getting blood for a small child.

The child survived, and is now a pre-teen. And even now, 12 years later, she will message Begley on Facebook thanking her for helping her stay alive.

“You impact your community and other peoples’ lives — even if they don’t see you,” Begley said. “This job is more than just pushing buttons. You are contributing to saving lives. You are making a difference. Don’t ever forget that.”

Abbey Webb, a student speaker from the Hazard campus, said she was told when she was accepted into the program that it would not be easy. She confirmed that fact Thursday. She noted the hours in the study room and the hours preparing for class. She talked about clinical rotations and the challenges of phlebotomy. But she also revealed what the students learned about themselves — that they could succeed.

“Understanding how to be successful meant getting a better understanding of ourselves,” she said. “We made it!”

For the first time, standout preceptors were also recognized for their efforts. Both Lynne Hartinger, MT (ASCP), of Mercy West in Cincinnati, and David Polston, MLT (ASCP), MT (AMT), of Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville, Ky., received the inaugural honors.

In the end, Steve Schwarze, PhD, MLS (ASCP), and program director of Medical Laboratory Science, helped distribute the pins and recognize the students. When the ceremony was finished, the crowd erupted into applause.

“It’s amazing how quickly you had to acquire knowledge,” he told the students. “The biggest transformation is how confident you became. You will have to solve problems, and you know you can do it. But keep learning. Keep putting yourselves in new situations.

“We can call you graduates,” he continued, “but we can now call you colleagues as well. Congratulations.”