The Perry Lutheran Homes Administrator and Chief Operating Officer Melissa Gannon delivered the keynote address Thursday afternoon at the Perry VanKirk Career Academy Certified Nursing Assistant Pinning Ceremony for the spring term, where 18 students were honored for completing the CNA program.
A large crowd filled the Spring Valley Ballroom of the Hotel Pattee for the ceremony, with supportive attendees including family members, DMACC staff and area high school counselors. DMACC Counselor Connie Saenz welcomed students and attendees and introduced Gannon, who has been with the Perry Lutheran Homes since 2013.
“I started as a CNA just like you,” Gannon told the graduating CNAs. “I remember my first shift. I was nervous, overwhelmed, not sure if I belonged, but then a resident reached for my hand and whispered, ‘Thank you for being here.’ In that moment, I know I was exactly where I was supposed to be.”
Along with advising the new CNAs to invest in good shoes and urging them to make time for self-care, Gannon predicted career enrichments ahead.
“Let yourself be coached,” she said. “Be open. Be teachable. You’ll always be learning in this field. And here’s the beautiful part: The residents you think you’re there to care for them, but they will give back to you in ways you never expected. They will teach you about resilience, love, forgiveness and what truly matters at the end of life.”
The VanKirk Career Academy CNA graduates are eligible to work at long-term care facilities in Iowa. Upon their completion of state testing, they obtain their advanced CNA certification, allowing them to work in hospital settings.
Students awarded their CNA pins Thursday were:
- Teegan K Claude
- Aurora Corona Rodriguez
- Alexa Enright
- Ayden Erickson
- Jake Gragg
- Megan Hernandez
- Christian McAdon
- Silvia Molina Flores
- Shelby Mullins
- Rebecca Naranjo
- Janelly Sanchez Ochoa
- Caitlin Pettit
- Ruthvi Senthilkumar
- Haileigh Smith
- Dana Stalzer
- Selma Suljic
- BrooklynnThompson
- Kya Thiel
Saenz also introduced the CNA Program instructors, Danielle Navarro and Megan Nikolish, Owen Meyers and Katie Tuel.
“Our students have dedicated themselves this semester to early morning classes, late night clinicals, and weekends of studying to get to this point,” Tuel said. “They are now able to celebrate an achievement for those countless hours. These students are a wonderful group that will be a great asset to our healthcare system. I wish them all the best moving forward in their healthcare careers.”
Thousands of high school students take advantage of Des Moines Area Community College’s Career Advantage offerings each year, giving them a jump start on their academic and career goals while taking tuition-free college courses. With this early start on college, students gain hands-on experience that can lead directly to a degree, diploma, certification, apprenticeship or a job — all while saving time and money.
Fall semester registration is just around the corner. For more information, talk to your high school counselor or contact the DMACC at Perry VanKirk Career Academy at 1011 Second St. in Perry, 515-428-8100.