Sandhills Community College Celebrates Workforce Continuing Education Graduates at Commencement Ceremony

Jump to:

Four hundred and thirty students crossed the stage at Sandhills Community College (SCC) on Thursday, Dec. 11, during the Workforce Continuing Education commencement ceremony held in Owens Auditorium. Graduates received diplomas, licenses, or certifications in high-demand career fields that support economic sustainability across the region and state.

Among the graduates were nine students from the inaugural class of the Ophthalmology Assistant program, offered in partnership with Carolina Eye Associates.

The processional was led by Bill Caudill and the Southern Pines Fire Department. The invocation was offered by Michelle Bauer, vice provost. President Alexander “Sandy” Stewart presided over the ceremony and awarded diplomas, licenses, and certifications, as well as delivering closing remarks. Dean Ed Spitler presented the candidates for graduation. SCC Trustee William Richard Maness congratulated each graduate as they crossed the stage.

“Your accomplishments today are about your determination, grit, and perseverance,” said President Stewart. “Today we honor your commitment to better yourselves and better our community. Citizens of our community need you — in health care settings, driving semi trucks, and supporting electrical, plumbing, and HVAC needs. We thank you for the contributions you will bring to our region.”

Back to Top

Student Speakers

Student keynote speakers were Samuel West during the morning ceremony and Amy Lynn during the afternoon ceremony.

West shared his journey of earning his high school equivalency after leaving high school due to substance use challenges and losing a parent to addiction. He credited community support — including SCC’s substance abuse recovery program — with helping him complete his education.

“With the support I received at SCC and earning my degree, I am now able to work in my stepdad’s business and contribute to society,” West said. “I feel very blessed and look forward to being a contributor to our community.”

During the afternoon ceremony, Lynn reflected on returning to education later in life.

“I like to refer to myself as an eternal student,” Lynn said. “Five years after my last round of schooling, I decided to start the nurse aide program at SCC to better support my family. The high-quality and affordable education offered at SCC made the decision easy and helped me balance work and family. Now more than ever, I feel inspired to pursue a nursing education.”

Back to Top

Ophthalmology Assistant Program Milestone

This ceremony marked the first class of Ophthalmology Assistants to graduate since the program was revised with support from Carolina Eye Associates and new faculty.

The program was led by Brittany Rodriguez, instructor, with Dr. Fakadej of Carolina Eye Associates serving as the program’s medical director. Jacklyn Pepich, BS, RHIA, CMA, serves as director of Healthcare Training for Workforce Continuing Education.

Over approximately four months, students gained the skills and preparation needed to sit for the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant exam, helping address workforce demand in the region.

Back to Top

Graduate Listings by Program

College and Career Readiness Graduates

English Language Acquisition
Efrain Cardozo, Florence Duvin Odent, Mileyka Milagros Cruz Vargas, Hellen Mendes, Oliveira Barducchi, Rutty Raquel, Rivera Jazzlin Zitlaly, Sanchez Vasquez, Oleg Vdovenko

High School Equivalency
Viviana Cox*, Elizabeth Eddy, Hannah Griffes, McKayla Jacobs, Paloma James, Angelina Lamm, Melissa Pleasant, Jackson Reeder, Reaghan Richards, Noah Russell*, Rudy Salgado-Perez*, Onnanisha Simmons*, Samuel West*

U.S. Citizenship Prep
Britta Bayer Douglas, Mayra Edilma Lucero, Maria Elvira Bello, Yvonne Irene Boley, Carol Lizeth Hough, Jieun Moon, Yessenia Jazmin Rojas Lopez, Luis Angel Tontle Castro

Automotive and Transportation

CDL Truck Driver Training
Grace-Anne Vredenburg, Collin Armstrong, Kiandre Berryman, Brayden Cook, Juan Castillo, Cody Davis, Dalton Donathan, Jordan Douglas, John Evans, Lydell Corey Ewing, Dakota Graham, Darius Jackson, Robert McRae, Linda Simonton, Jay Spartz, Jonathan Rodriguez, Vernon Washington

Construction and Trades

Electrical Level I
Kaycia Best, Aldred Cagle, Stephone Covington, Kenton Dull, Jae Hawksworth, Christopher Hernandez Jimenez, George Mitchell, Scott Pedersen, Vasyl Pidopryhora, Carlos Santos-Esquivel, Katy Simutis, Aaron Stevens, Todd Tilton, Melvin Valdez Gonzalez, Benjamin Vazquez, Ashton Walden

Electrical Level II
Jackson Chestnut, Matthew Locklear, Christian Newman, Todd Tilton

HVAC Level I
Stephen Bowden, Travon Davenport, Efrain Hernandez, Jabrea Holmes, Josue Jimenez-Paso, Jonathan Locklear, Jose Matheu, Thaaddeus Morgan, Mason Owens, Herlinda Patterson, Cole Schrier, Geoffrey Smerdon, Clayton Stevens, Nelius Van Niekerk, Emir Vargas, Jerry White, Adrian Wright

HVAC Level II
Daniel Aaron, Brenen Acosta Troches, Maximus Chavez, Joshua Dew, Noah Dorsey, William McIntosh, Anthony McLeod, Boyd Miller, Cory Rogers, Devin Rogers, Ismerlin Santos-Eulogio, Jesus Tolentino-Nill

Plumbing Level I
Renee Astphan, Jared Bo, Jeffrey Boan, Christopher Faircloth, Matthew Garner, Elish Green, Kamar Isaac, Adam Maness, Matt Miller, Simeon Peterkin, Mike Seaman, Erik Sutton, Todd Tilton

Plumbing Level II
Murphy Barnes, Andrew Delatorre, Harrison Hafer, Noah Lehmann, Jonathan Muse

Healthcare

Central Sterile Processing
Brian Bacon, Tantania Blue, Luis Lugo, Toria Malachi, Davionna Campbell, Samantha Dunn, Tagina Fleet, Brittany Gaddy, Kenee Gaddy, Allison Hamlin, Erica Hamilton, Katrice Heard, Whitney Hollingsworth, Monica Jones, Sharlias Jones, Tynikia Little, Iquashia McAuthur, Sheylin McGuinness, Jason McNeill, Joshua Mitchell, Jennifer Molina-Garcia, Lizbet Molina-Garcia, Cathy Monroe, Djannie Paul, Shayla Robinson, Laresha Ross, Brooklyn Smith, Sonia Soto, Hannah Tyner

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant
Aniyah Baldwin, Shavonda Brooks, Kayla Burney, Aniya Colston, Sherlyn Cruz-Ricardez, Jasmyn Diaz Garcia, Alba Dominguez-Acosta, Zraiyah Douchette, Alicia Dyle, Ja'teyvionah Ford, Jazmin Gonzalez, Sakina Hamilton, Shontanica Howard Barber, Alainah Jackson, Jocelyn Jacobs, Mia Jardine, Reyna Jimenez Cortes, Heydi Leana, Theresa Leroy, Jazmin Locklear, Kansas Locklear, Griselda Loida-Cortes, Priscila MacHuca, Noah Marshburn, Egypt McLean, Katrina McLean, Zymeira Monroe, Zariah Montgomery, Angele Perez-Miranda, Anna Pettitt, Allissa Phillips, Whitley Richardson, Stephanie Singer, Montashia Smith, Pamela Smith, Latesha Taylor

Clinical Medical Assistant
Leah Franklin, Camila Grijalva, Iris Hernandez, Amy Johnson, Jaquena McKoy, Reagan Michael, Joselyn Rodriguez Catalan, Buchellia Ross

EKG Technician
Arianna Albino, Saniya Allen, Taylor Bosworth, Breanna Brewer, Valentina Callaham, Davionna Campbell, Kerem Campos Vasquez, Tamia Capel, Samantha Cerqueira, Heather Collins, Aniya Colston, Zeline Corona, Lativia Crichlow, Matthew Cummings, Ivette Davis, Jasmyn Diaz Garcia, Jasmine Douglas, Paris Douglas, Zraiyah Douchette, Desaraye Edwards, Melissa Forehand, Diana Gomez, Jessica Getz, Omari Goodman, Shenna Graham, Jayda Jimenez, Leani Johnson, Lisa Jordan, Colette Leber, Angela Lemons, Tyrus Liles, Ashley Lobo-Villeda, Kansas Locklear, Nyla Locklear, Patricia Maldonado, Noah Marshburn, Bailey Mass, Tiffanie Martin, Nia McCoy, Katherine McDonald, Ivion McDougald, Amnetta McNair, Cheyenne Morante, Veronica Morman, Zymeira Monroe, Cesar Moscoso, Ja'kari Murchison, Anna Parra, Amber Peak, Julisa Perdomo Gomez, Bethany Pena, Angeles Perez-Miranda, Traci Phurrough, Traci Ratliff, Odalis Rodriguez-Morales, Tenasia Roseboro, Nikeaira Ryans, Byron Shelton, Dionecia Smith-Kershaw, Terae Southerland-Brown, Ananda Thomas, Keishla Thomas, Yoshua Wallace, Nevaeh Watts

Medical Billing and Coding
Josielyn Adriano, Timika Baldwin, Georgia Bibey, Kristin Blair, Jackie Boone, Lakenya Bowden, Shavonda Brooks, Shanice Brown-Gayle, Marleese Cameron, Frances Davenport, Kenneth Dial, Cassandra Dowdy, Latita Figgs, Pamela Fincher, Tiara Hill, Shontanica Howard Barber, Diamond Gilbert, Kayla Goines, Ashanti Harris, Lisa Jordan, Jessica Lattimore, Canvas Locklear, Nyla Locklear, Inesha Loyd, Megan McDaniel, Nia McCoy, Helen McQueen-Hocker, Jacqueise Oliver, Rhonda Powell, Tammy Sawyer, Shanna Smalley, Pamela Smith, Tequila Thomas, Kimberly Worthy

Medical Terminology and A&P
Hannah Clarke, Rhinnan Dedrick-Webster, Kenneth Dial, Pamela Fincher, Kimberly Godin, Kayla Goines, Cley Hilario-Patricio, Inesha Loyd, Kirsten Jones, Aniya Langhorne, Savannah McDonald, Zion Morales, Jordan Parraway, Tamika Reese, Cieara Velazquez

NC Community Health Worker
Kimberly Godin, Shirley Hart, Angie Locklear, Alveda Person, Tang Qun, Tracey Williams

Nurse Aide Level I
Yahaira Arroyo, Dana Bethea, Savanna Brock, Camille Broussard, Emilianne Carter, Asucena Casas Salinas, Ka-Shariea Colley, Haley Covington, Lilly Deese, Meghan Fowles, Angela Gaudet, Jade Headen, Iris Hernandez, Rebecca Hunt, Dshaunna Jones, William Leak, Amy Lynn, Emily Martin, Lakendria McNeil, Christal Mireles-Olivares, Aubriee Noland, Carolyn O'Connell, Angele Perez Miranda, Christina Sheets, Amiera Rice, Emmaleigh Russell, Jesus Villalba Barrozo, Rebecca Vinson, Ashley Winters, Khayla Woodlief, Jaedyn Woods

Nurse Aide Level II
Laura Hammonds, Teresa Simmons

Ophthalmology Assistant
Yolanda Alfaro, Twanda Covington, Linda Edwards, Ralph Elia, Aragon Guillermo, Aubrey Hicks, Luretha McAllister, Breanna Prevatte, Desmond Worthy

Pharmacy Technician
Nana Biritwum, Brynne Burlingame, Valerie Diaz, Ouieda Hooker, Leela Lockey, Sylvia Maddox, Breonna McLean, Stephanie Palafox, Sury Santos, Shana Waddell

Phlebotomy Technician
Kyra Adams, Donna Blakley, Tina Brown, Sara Carlson, Charlita Brown, D’Erica Davis, Shania Everett, Anthony Felipe, Jessica Getz, Teresa Hall, Sha'leise Harris, Devyani Haye, Jamie Jamerson, Enecia James, Lisbeth Lopez Garcia, Nikita Lyles, Brianna Marsh, Danielle McKay, Rasheena McRae, Aaliyah Miller, Malaysia Morrisey, Kadence O'Hara, Janiya Peterkin, Jenna Polston, Sebastian Richmond, Jamonica Roudy, Aubrey Roy, Katrina Shaw, Kimberly Titus, Brooke Tran, Andrea White, Amber Zirkle

Information Technology

CompTIA A+
Tiffany Barber, Jeremiah Britt, Jody Britt, Mark Covington, Nicolas Durand, Jeremiah Faumuina, Robin Fox, Shevon McCollum, Jimme Patterson, Brady Pratte, Zachary Prevatte, Cameron Quinn, Logan Sarlo, Robert Sarlo, Dominick Smith, Jill Stepanian, Kaitlyn Tillison, Brandon Wiltshire

Landscape and Gardening

USGA Greenskeeper and Apprenticeship Program
Ryan Braybrook, Patrick Byers, Charles Dismore, Peter Ferguson, Stephen Hartsell, Brooke Heikkila, Jaechond Ingram, Ryan Kells, Grayson Leebert, Michael Moneymaker, Liam Nicol, Jackson Pardue, Joshua Player, Thomas Ring, Rufus Sanford, Matthew Schoemmell, Todd Walker, Andrew White

Public Safety

EM-Paramedic
Kenna McIntire

Fire Academy
Evelyn Sheilds-Cowley, Jonathan Esteves, Jeremiah Faumuina, Preston Foote*, Yatzier Fuentes, Conner Funderburk, Juliana Harms, Antonio Morris, Gavin Pringle*, Easton Ryser, Can Scott

Back to Top

Special Awards and Recognitions

Special awards, recognitions, and scholarships are noted with an asterisk (*).

National Adult Education Honor Society (NAEHS): Recognizes exceptional adult education students.
Sam and Hazel Petty Scholarship: Awarded to Viviana Cox (Hoke County) and Noah Russell (Moore County).
Commitment to Excellence in Coding
Commitment to Excellence in Phlebotomy
Fire Academy Valedictorian Award
Corbin Rogers Leadership Award: Presented in memory of Corbin Rogers and voted on by fellow Fire Academy students.

The College extends sincere thanks to instructors, coordinators, administrative staff, and the families and loved ones who supported graduates throughout their educational journeys.

Back to Top