MLT Program Coordinator Shawna Schuler, opened the ceremony with a welcome to all graduates, families, and friends before featured speaker and former Program Coordinator Josh Kraushaar, shared comments from each graduate’s clinical site about them and the characteristics they each hold to be successful in lab careers.

Chosen by his fellow graduates to give a student response, Anthony Zigrang first addressed the graduates with memories of their time together during the two years in the program and closed with “Being an MLT in a hospital makes us feel necessary. MLTs provide vital information about the patient to aide in their treatment. However, being an MLT is more than that, sometimes it is providing words of support when a patient needs them most, other times it is being their advocate, or as simple as helping them be a little more comfortable.”

Following Zigrang’s address was the presentation of the Academic Excellence Award to Olivia Grote, Clinical Excellence Award to Molly Wittrock, and the Outstanding Teaching Tech Award to Sherry Kunert, of Humboldt County Memorial Hospital.

After the pinning of the nine graduates, the ceremony closed with a reception for all attendees.

2024 Medical Laboratory Technician Graduates

Mackinzie Fahey, Rockwell City; Javier Francisco, Sioux City; Olivia Grote, Wall Lake; Gianna Koppen, Fort Dodge; Noelle Olmstead, Otho; Jessica Thoren, Emmetsburg; Keeley Waack, Maquoketa; Molly Wittrock, Humboldt; and Anthony Zigrang, Fort Dodge.

During the ceremony, the following agencies were acknowledged for providing clinical experiences for the students: Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Cherokee Regional Medical Center, Hansen Family Hospital, Humboldt County Memorial Hospital, Iowa Specialty Hospital, Spencer Hospital, Saint Anthony Regional Hospital, Stewart Memorial Community Hospital, Unity Point — Saint Luke’s, Unity Point — Trinity Regional Medical Center, Van Diest Medical Center.