Ceremonies Signify Dedication to Professions
Kettering College upholds traditional symbolic ceremonies to officially welcome students into the professions they have chosen. These ceremonies are a time for students to reflect on their decision to enter their field of study and to focus on their remaining scholarly work or their upcoming career.
Doctoral students studying occupational therapy take part in a white coat dedication ceremony to signify the end of their second year’s didactic work and the beginning of their fieldwork and clinical placement. It is a moment where students look forward to putting their knowledge and skills to work to help their careers come further into focus.
Occupational therapy students who have completed the third and final year of the doctoral program attend a pinning ceremony, where they are formally welcomed into the profession by accepting the pin. The pinning ceremony is held immediately before the students’ commencement ceremony occurring the same day.
This year 23 students earned their pins and graduated after the ceremony. Professor Rachelle Janning spoke at the ceremony and thanked the students for all their hard work and collaboration with each other. She encouraged them to remember their work is not just a job but a calling. She said, “When you’ve been an occupational therapist for 25 years and you’re assessing that person, I hope you look at them like you looked at your first patient. They’re still a unique, wonderful human being with lived experiences you don’t know about that you need to hear about.”
Radiologic Sciences & Imaging students take part in a dedication ceremony as well prior to receiving their diplomas the following day. Seventeen students participated in this year’s ceremony where they pledged to use the skills and knowledge they’ve gained to best serve patients with compassion and respect and to be a positive role model throughout their careers.
Professor Samantha Fullen encouraged students to “Go boldly and seize every opportunity that is before you…We have a piece in us that is greater than anything we can find in this world.” Radiologic technology student Chelsea Moses addressed the graduates by saying, “Many people would think this is where our journey begins, but I would disagree. Our journey started two years ago. We took a long road to get to this point, but this is only a midpoint in our journey. …We will always have our memories to look back on and how hard we fought to get here.”
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