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Owensboro Community & Technical College Celebrates Future Healthcare Professionals at 2026 Going Pro Event

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (04/23/2026) — Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) proudly recognized the next generation of healthcare professionals during its 2026 Going Pro Healthcare Signing Day, held April 14 in the Industry Innovation Center. The event celebrated graduating students entering the workforce while highlighting the strong partnerships between OCTC and regional healthcare employers.

The Going Pro celebration honors both student achievement and the employers investing in the future of the local healthcare workforce. This year's Healthcare session featured graduates from nursing, radiography, and veterinary technology programs who are stepping directly into careers across the region.

Among those recognized, Deaconess Health System honored nursing graduates Isai Amaya and Kelsey Hayes as they prepare to begin their careers following May graduation. Kentuckiana Animal Clinic celebrated Wes Smith, a Veterinary Technology graduate who is launching his career in animal care. Ohio County Healthcare (OCH) recognized Radiography graduates Briley Howard and Ashlee Diaz Garcia, with Radiology Manager Michelle Ball present to support and celebrate their success. Owensboro Health Regional Hospital (OHRH) welcomed nursing graduates Brittney R. Groves and Sondra Perez into their workforce.

Additional radiography graduates recognized during the ceremony included Roxy Cunningham, Jordan Fulton, Kinsley Goetz, Sarah Houston, Baylie Mitchell, Kiana Sandefur, Yereli Reyes Santamaria, Ansley Smith, and Leah Stewart, all of whom are entering the healthcare field with the skills and experience needed to make an immediate impact.

Beyond academic success, the Going Pro event highlighted the perseverance and resilience of OCTC students. Many graduates overcame significant challenges while completing their programs. One student balanced the demands of coursework, clinical rotations, and full-time employment while navigating personal hardships, relying on the encouragement of instructors and the unwavering support of family members to stay focused on their goals. Another student managed the responsibilities of raising a family while pursuing a rigorous healthcare program, crediting faculty mentors and classmates for providing guidance, flexibility, and motivation during difficult moments.

Students consistently emphasized the impact of OCTC faculty and clinical partners, expressing gratitude for instructors, advisors, and healthcare professionals who provided mentorship, encouragement, and hands-on learning opportunities. Their support systems-ranging from spouses and children to parents, coworkers, and classmates-played a critical role in helping these graduates persist and succeed.

The Going Pro Healthcare Signing Day reflects OCTC's commitment to workforce development by aligning education with employer needs. Through these partnerships, students gain real-world experience and transition seamlessly into high-demand careers that strengthen the region's healthcare system.

"The Going Pro Healthcare event represents the very best of OCTC-students who have worked tirelessly to overcome challenges, develop their skills, and step into careers that truly make a difference," said Dr. Scott Williams, President of OCTC. "Our partnerships with healthcare providers ensure that our graduates are not only job-ready, but prepared to deliver compassionate, high-quality care to our communities. We are incredibly proud of each of these students and excited to see the impact they will have across our region."

For more information about OCTC programs or future Going Pro events, email bernie.hale@kctcs.edu.

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Owensboro Community & Technical College is one of the sixteen community and technical colleges that make up the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. OCTC serves the KY counties of Daviess, Hancock, Ohio and McLean. OCTC has three campuses in Daviess County and a Center and Annex in Hancock County. OCTC strives to serve the communities in the service area by providing associate degree education for transfer, state of the art technical education for students focusing on entering the workforce, customized business and industry solutions through the Workforce Solutions division, and adult education and business and industry testing through the SkillTrain unit.

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The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth's largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky's largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. We help students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through programs that lead directly to jobs or help them transfer to one of our four-year partners.

Connect with OCTC: Owensboro.kctcs | Facebook.com/owensboroctc | Twitter@OCTC_Tweets | Instagram OwensboroCTC

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