Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute recently celebrated the first class of graduates from the college’s new Surgical Technology Program. A special ceremony to honor each of the graduates was recently held at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center to honor the class and their accomplishments. Each graduate received a certificate and a pin to mark the completion of their training program.
CCC&TI’s Surgical Technology program was added in Fall of 2025 and through classroom instruction, laboratory practice and supervised clinical experiences prepares students to work in hospitals and surgery centers to assist with surgical operations. Surgical technologists prepare operating rooms for surgery, sterilize equipment, ensure surgical supplies are appropriate and available, ready patients for surgery, and other duties that help maintain a sterile environment for patients and healthcare professionals. The surgical technologist helps ensure safety and efficiency for both patients and the professionals performing the procedures. Graduates received a certificate of completion and are qualified to sit for the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) Tech in Surgery (TS-C) national certification examination which certifies a surgical technologist for work in the field.
During the ceremony, Surgical Technology Program Director Holly Roten welcomed families and loved ones and praised graduates for the hard work and drive that helped them reach their goals. “These students have shown an incredible amount of determination, resilience, and perseverance over the last 9 months. They faced some unexpected changes and challenges, but they chose to keep moving forward. They adapted, worked hard, supported one another and remained committed to the goal of becoming a surgical technologist. I could not be prouder of what they have accomplished,” said Roten. “This class represents the kind of teamwork that is essential in the operating room….and I am excited to see the impact they will make in the surgical profession.”
Graduate and mom of four Briana Dula spoke during the ceremony and shared that balancing work, family and college courses was challenging for herself and many of her classmates. Dula shared that with the support of the instructors and with the support they gave each other, they were able to achieve their goals together. “Tonight isn’t just about graduating from the surgical technology program, it’s about resilience, sacrifice and growth – it’s about a parent who studies after her kids go to sleep, a classmate that doubted themselves but kept going, every early morning clinical, every breakdown after an exam and before, and every ‘I can’t do this’ that turned into ‘watch me,” she said. “We became a family. We learned how to adapt, work hard and keep going even when things get messy.
We were the first class, the test class, the ‘let’s see it work’ class, and now look at us, we didn’t just survive, we made history.”
Graduate Alexandra Stewart also spoke at the event and gave a charge to her fellow graduates and expressed gratitude for the support of the instructors. “To my classmates, I encourage each of you to remember how you feel in this moment, remember how proud you are of yourself and carry that confidence with you into the operating room, every single day throughout your career,” she said. “To our instructors, Holly, Valerie and Julia, I can speak for the entire class when I say that your hard work, patience, and caring hearts never went unnoticed. Thank you for standing up for us, advocating for us and always having our best interest at heart.”
To conclude the ceremony, graduates recited the Surgical Technologist oath, pledging to uphold the highest standards in professional conduct and to perform their duties with integrity, skill and compassion, and to pursue excellence in surgical assistance for the betterment of human health.
Congratulations to CCC&TI’s Surgical Technology Class of 2026.
For more information, visit www.cccti.edu.