Rad Tech Graduation

Publish Date: June 6, 2023

In 2018, Tommy Tran parked his car in front of the Crafton Hills College Administration Building contemplating his future: either he drives away or takes a chance to embark on a new adventure in radiologic technology.

He chose the latter, joining a short list of those who have successfully completed the Radiologic Technician program in partnership with Colton-based Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. And on Tuesday, June 6, Tran and his fellow classmates celebrated their accomplishments with a commencement ceremony attended by friends, family, faculty, and supporters inside the hospital’s Oak Room.

There, hoots and hollers could be heard throughout the ceremony, with many capturing the special moments on their smartphone. Tran, along with Bryan Johns, were tasked with delivering class reflections, with each grad thanking those who encouraged them to never give up.

Tran brought humor and heart with his remarks.

“I did this because I wanted to tell my kids that it is never too late to go back to school, guys. If I can do this, you can do it too,” he said, adding, “I did it for them, but also for me, and also for my lady boss (his wife) who gave me a four-to-five-year period to finish this program. If I didn’t, my clothes would be out the front door.”

Humor is what helped drive this year’s class to the finish line, which was reflected in a special photo presentation highlighting moments captured throughout the two-year program, such as a falling asleep in class or volunteering as a patient to complete labs. Hours are spent in-and-outside of the classroom preparing for clinicals and certification, and these graduates made many sacrifices like spending time away from family and friends because of the study time they needed for a surprise test .

But their success in the classroom was not due to just their hard work, as pointed out by Dan Word, dean of career education and development at Crafton, who, too, took time to recognize each grad’s support system.

“This is rarely a solo trek to get to this level of success without the love and support from family, friends, and loved ones, and so you all should feel really appreciated in what you’ve given and what you’ve done to help them get to this place,” he said.

In addition to Tran and Johns, this year’s class included Courtney Collins, Eric Flores, Shawana Leanos, Hayley May, and Perris So. Additional event highlights included the awarding of diplomas, pins, and merit awards. Eric Flores captured the Clinical Award; Hayley May won the Academic award.

Sean Lucas, a rad tech with ARMC and class instructor, was voted Tech of the Year by the graduating class. In addition, Eric Flores and Bryan Johns were awarded scholarships from Beaver Medical Group, while Tommy Tran received both the Christi Hall Award and Michael Scott Award.