COTC Recognizes Healthcare Program Graduates

Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) recognized the spring semester 2020 graduates of diagnostic medical sonography, radiologic science and nursing technologies in virtual pinning ceremonies and celebrations.*

The 76 students in associate degree nursing were conferred degrees early on April 21 and received temporary nursing licenses permitted through HB 197.

Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology

Stephanie Baker

Shawnae Brodkin

Cassandra Cochran

Elle Cook

Taylor Davis

Abigail Evans

Christine Fox

Sarah Jimenez

Autumn Kilbarger

Emily Kruger

Adriana Long

Megan Moore

Shelby Morris†

Cassidy Mullet

Natalia Notario

Deidra Redmond

Taylor Sandman

Emily Staton

Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Science Technology

Chelsea Bartley

Joshua Bauman

Jessimi Briedis

Ashley Chavalia

Kiersten Dean

Hanna Gardner

Tracy Jones

Kylie Marinacci

Kristyn Martin

Keirstan Mirgon

Kala Montgomery

Andrea Powell

Ashley Roahrig

Alexis Robinson

Brandi Rogers

Mark Woodruff

Radiologic science technology graduates celebrate together online.

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Technology

Erin Adam

Emylee Appis

Miranda Bailey

Courtney Ballinger

Ashley Ballmann

Anna Baranovskiy

Morgan Bradford

Leah Carlson

Francesca Cater

Cheryl Cavallo Nabb

Jennifer Clements

Ashley Daffin

Caitlin Daugherty

Christopher Diaz

Maurice Douglass

Ambika Dulal

Sierra Echols

Julia Figgins

Taylor Flowers

Brittany Geer

Rhealyn Gelin

Teresa Gillum

Emma Greeler

Allegra Harris

Leanna Hatch

Cortney Hawkins

Joy Heller

Amanda Hickok

Christina Horstmann

Taylor Kaiser

Jodi Kenworthy

Darryl Kreutz

Andrea Kuskowski

Susan Lahmers

Erika Larocca

Connor Lehan

Harmony Litwin

Leigh Love

Brittney Mainous

Sandy Mang

Christianne Manion

Lori Maybury

Crystal McClary

Austin Miller

Abdirisaq Mohamed

Yusuf Mohamed

Taylor Morris

Nas Moussaid

Grace Myers

Elizabeth Okorochukwu

Madison Papp

Alexis Pierce

Danila Potts

Tulasha Pyakurel

Matthew Rankin

Dana Ray

Kenya Reese

Olivia Rhynehardt

Harrison Rogers

Emily Salmen

Madison Scrape

Jessica Shaner

Emily Snoke

Sophia Stati

Erin Storsin

Alexis Straub

Corynn Sykes

Olivia Taylor

Tara Timsina

Brooke Walsh

Jessica Weekley

Seltan Weldegebriel

Jenna Well

Bianca White

Sheri Wilson

Duke Young

The Outstanding Graduate Award was given to Tara Timsina of Reynoldsburg. Emma Greeler of Pleasantville received the Clinical Excellence Award.

Elizabeth Barnhart Award for Nursing Excellence

The Barnhart Award honors a graduating student who exemplifies the highest ideals of the nursing profession: intelligence, commitment, sacrifice, integrity and a compassionate connection to others. Recipients receive a certificate and a $300 cash stipend to help defray the cost of equipment and career-related fees, including testing and licensure. The inaugural award was presented in May 2018.The Elizabeth Barnhart Award for Nursing Excellence was presented to Olivia Rhynehardt of Columbus. She received praise from faculty saying, “[Rhynehardt has] shown great courage and determination to improve her life by first attaining her LPN license and now, her RN,” as well as fellow students who added, “There were times that I felt overwhelmed by all the information and classwork that I wanted to give up, but her words of advice and that of others, kept me up on my feet and moving forward.”

Barnhart, a young registered nurse who loved her profession and was passionate about helping others, was only just beginning a promising career as an emergency room nurse at Newark’s Licking Memorial Hospital when she was killed on Feb. 2, 2017. A 2015 COTC graduate, Barnhart was an outstanding student and well-known to use the phrase “nurse so hard,” which she used to describe the deep level of compassion and commitment needed by nurses to provide exceptional patient care.

About the Pinning Ceremony

The pinning ceremony is a long-held tradition marking the passage of student to the ranks of professional nursing. The ceremony originated in the 1860s at London’s Nightingale School of Nursing. Florence Nightingale, who had recently been awarded the Red Cross of St. George for her selfless service to the injured and dying in the Crimean War, chose to extend this honor to outstanding nursing graduates by presenting each of them with a medal for excellence.

*Only graduates who have granted COTC permission to release their names to the public are listed.

†COTC has decided to recognize students who were projected to graduate spring semester, but due to the coronavirus pandemic have incomplete academic records. The COTC transcript is the only official verification of degree completion.

COTC is a fully accredited, public college dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible programs of technical education in response to current and emerging employment needs. COTC is the only technical college in Ohio operating four full-service campus locations: Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala.