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Kettering, Ohio (April 25) ­ On Saturday, April 30, Kettering College of Medical Arts will confer degrees and certificates on 184 students at the school’s 37th annual commencement ceremonies. The event will be held at the Dayton Convention Center, starting at 8 p.m., and is open to the public. Dr. Benjamin Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins and nationally known advocate of early childhood reading and education, will be the keynote speaker.

“This is one of the largest classes of graduates Kettering College has ever had,” said Dr. Charles Scriven, president of Kettering College. “The accomplishments of these students — and of their teachers — make us all proud and deeply grateful.”

The college president will grant 121 Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees in the following areas: nursing (65), radiologic technology (20), medical sonography (18), respiratory care (10), nuclear medicine (6), pre-professional studies (1), and general studies (1). Thirty-six Bachelor of Science in Health Professions degrees will be awarded in the following specialties: physician assistant (20), advanced imaging (8), medical sonography (4), health care professional studies (3), and respiratory care (1).

The following Certificates of Completion will be granted: physician assistant (17), magnetic resonance imaging (10), and computerized tomography (3). Those receiving physician assistant certificates already hold bachelor’s degrees from Kettering College or from other institutions of higher learning.

Eight of the graduating students will receive special recognition as members of the Vaughan-Beaven Service Learning Honors Program. These honors graduates are Kineta Bayne (nursing), Kelly Cole (physician assistant), Carol Cunningham (nursing), Jeanette Foronda (physician assistant), Jennifer Lawson (nursing), Michelle Lour (physician assistant), Elizabeth Parks (respiratory care), and Harsha Patel (physician assistant).

Guest speaker Dr. Ben Carson is a professor of neurosurgery, plastic surgery, oncology and pediatrics, and he is the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Craniofacial Center. The director of the division of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins since 1984, he is probably best known for his successes in separating conjoined twins. Dr. Carson also is founder of the nationally recognized Carson Scholars Fund, for high academic achievement in fourth through 12th grades, and was named “Philanthropist of the Year” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

About Kettering College of Medical Arts
Kettering College of Medical Arts is a fully accredited, coeducational college that specializes in health science education. A division of Kettering Medical Center, the College is located on the KMC campus and is chartered by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Kettering College offers certificate programs, two-year Associate of Science degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Health Professions degree with four specialty tracks, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion degree, and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

An institution of Christian higher education, Kettering College graduates health care professionals of high character who, in the tradition of the Master Healer, give whole-person care to their patients and generous service to their communities. Eighty percent of Kettering College graduates live and work in Ohio, with the majority settling in the Dayton area.