Wayne Community College recognized the seven members of its Pharmacy Technology class of 2016 in a formal pinning ceremony July 29.
The annual service includes presentation of pharmacy technician pins and roses by the faculty of the program; and recitation of the “Oath of a Pharmacy Technician.” It denotes the graduates’ passage from students to professionals in their field.
The guest speaker at the ceremony was Dr. Heather Hudson, the pharmacist manager at Mount Olive Pharmacy which is a site for student clinical rotations. She told the graduates that the ultimate goal of the pharmacy teams of which the new graduates will become essential members is to provide the best care possible and “improve the well-being and life of our patients.”
“Over the past decade, [pharmacy technicians] have become a vital part of the pharmacy environment,” Ms. Hudson said. “As the pharmacy practice continues to evolve, the role of the pharmacy technicians will continue to expand and the demand for well-educated technicians will continue to increase.”
Laura Skinner, director of WCC’s Pharmacy Technology Program, told the graduates, “Remember, count your pills twice, check the prescription label and the medication three times, but most importantly, remember that you are a pharmacy technician and you are ready to make a difference in the health care world.”
This year’s graduates are
Dean Barfield, Tonivia Kornegay, Ashlyn Merritt, Rebekah Sass, and Richard Underwood, all of Goldsboro;
Kristie Crabtree of Pikeville; and
Brittany Powell of Mount Olive.
Wayne Community College’s Pharmacy Technology program is a limited-admission, three-semester program that leads to a diploma. Graduates can choose to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam to earn the title of “certified pharmacy technician.”
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.