North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology Graduates 51st Class

The 51^st graduating class of the North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology celebrated their accomplishments with a commencement program on June 30. 

Graduates, pictured above, include: (seated, from left) Mallory Nicole Magliolo of Ponchatoula, Kayla Enola Ann Braud of St. Amant, Rebecca Rose Davis of Amite, Kelly Rose Fontenot of Ponchatoula, Lindsay Carol Ruggles of Luling, (standing, from left) Elizabeth Catherine Schenck of Chalmette, Melissa Mizell Besse of Bush, Raymond Louis Holt of Hammond, Thomas Gerard Cooke of Metairie and Thomas Luc Badon Loranger.

Commencement was held at the E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center with limited guests and social distancing measures in place. North Oaks Health System’s Pastoral Care Director Keith Kincaid delivered the invocation.

The health system’s Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Jarreau presided over the ceremony that concluded two years of study for the students involving 2,000 clinical hours and more than 1,200 classroom hours and 400 exams and quizzes.

The commencement address was delivered by Melissa Ridgedell, who is radiology supervisor for North Oaks Health System and a 1993 graduate of North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology.

Noting that radiologic technologists comprise the third largest segment of health care providers, Ridgedell encouraged the graduates to continue to explore the possibilities of their chosen profession.

My goal when I started the Radiologic Technology program was to graduate and find a job in X-ray,” Ridgedell affirms. “I didn’t consider that I could do more after graduation. There’s so much more to learn, and all of us have the potential to do great things.”

Before the presentation of diplomas by Program Director Heather Koepp, outstanding achievement awards were given. Ben Raney, didactic instructor for the school presented the Academic Achievement Award to Badon for obtaining the highest overall scholastic average, and the Performance and Attitude Award for exceptional performance in the clinical setting was presented to Braud by Heath Bailey, the school’s clinical coordinator.

North Oaks Radiology Support Supervisor Kenneth Travis presented the Dannye Young Taylor “Always Remembering Others Award,” named in honor of the health system’s patient representative, to Badon in recognition of his outstanding patient care skills.

In addition, Badon, Besse, Braud, Davis, Holt, Magliolo, Ruggles and Schenck were recognized as members of Lambda Nu, a national honor society for the radiologic and imaging sciences. To become a member, one must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average out of a possible 4.0.

Established in 1967, the North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology is accredited by JRCERT. The school offers a comprehensive 24-month program that provides classroom and clinical instruction to prepare students for careers in the field of diagnostic imaging, which is used to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) National Certification examination and apply for Louisiana state licensure.

For more information about North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology, call (985) 230-7805.

Applications for the 2021-23 class will be accepted through June 1, 2021. To request an application, call or write: Program Director, North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology, P.O. Box 2668, Hammond, Louisiana, 70404.