WESTFIELD – Westfield Technical Academy held the Class of 2017 CNA Pinning Ceremony on Friday. Six seniors received their pins as certified nursing assistants (CNAs), all having passed the Red Cross certification exam.
Allied Health seniors: Top row (L-R) Marina Levkha, Vitaliy Melnik, Timothy Rudenko. Bottom (L-R) Tatyana Gonchuk, Jaisen Gomez, Ilona Gladysh. (Submitted photo)
WTA Principal Joseph Langone began the program, following a fanfare by the Westfield Technical Academy Band under director Patrick Kennedy, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Allied Health junior Leighan Toomey. Langone referred to the six seniors as “extremely diligent and hardworking young people.” He said the CNA credential is a milestone in their lives, but the beginning, rather than the completion of a program.
“For me, it represents that compassion, kindness and goodness will continue to exist in this world of ours,” Langone said.
Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski welcomed Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, City Councilor Ralph J. Figy and School Committee members Diane Mayhew and William Duval to the ceremony. He said CNAs help medical staff as well as patients, and are people who show a “genuine concern for others.” The superintendent also said that since 1996, WTA has had 201 students certified as CNAs.
Senior Jaisen Gomez, who was chosen to speak for the class, ran through his memories from the last four years, starting with a puppet show at an elementary school his freshman year where he got to roar like a lion, to the joy of the children. He said his teachers showed the class how to get their work done, and in the right way. Gomez spoke about how tough his first year of patient care as a junior was, admitting it is not an easy job, and thanked faculty member Sherry Ferrier for her support.
“These guys are like family to me,” Gomez said about his classmates. “We’ve been together every other week for the past four years. I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
(L-R) Tina Gorman, Allied Health Advisory Committee, retired instructor Barbara Smith, Instructors Sherry Ferrier, Heather Potito and Maureen Baillargeon at Friday’s program. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Keynote speaker Tina Gorman, who serves on the Allied Health Advisory Board, said she has worked 38 years in gerontology, and recently celebrated her 11th year anniversary at the Council on Aging. Gorman said she has worked with dozens of CNAs over the years. To illustrate, she told stories of some that she had known, and the difference they had made to their patients.
Gorman ended with the story of an elderly man with Alzheimers named Al and his wife Claire, who was exhausted after 7 years of caring for him by herself. She said a CNA, whose name was Terry, started coming twice weekly to the home, offering relief for Claire. She said Terry went on walks with Al, and pored over family albums with him. He was calmer, his wife got respite, and hundreds of miles away, the anxiety of their daughter dissipated. Gorman said the story was personal, as Al and Claire were her parents.
“Attending to physical and psychological needs is a great responsibility. Hold out your candle for all to see it. Take your candle, and go light the world,” Gorman said.
Maureen Baillargeon, lead Allied Health instructor spoke about the seniors, all of whom plan on attending post-graduate education. She talked about helping to keep them on task, calling home to see if they were sick if absent; and if present and sick, sending them to the nurse.
“We never quit on them, and never expected them to quit on us,” Baillargeon said. She said they were taught a strong work ethic; to show up on time, not to bring illnesses to patients they cared for, and to remain professional. She said they performed beautifully at long-term care facilities, studied hard for their exam, and achieved a 100% pass rate.
Jaisen Gomez and Ilona Gladysh recite the CNA pledge with their candles lit. (Photo by Amy Porter(
Before the pins were presented and candles lit in a ceremony, Allied Health instructor Heather Potito talked about each student in the class individually.
Ilona Gladysh is currently working at Armbrook Village Assisted Living . She was a member of the girls soccer team her senior year. She did a senior internship at Baystate Noble on the telemetry unit and at the YMCA in the preschool program. She will be doing an internship at Baystate Noble’s emergency room later in the year. Her plans upon graduation are to attend Springfield Technical Community College in the healthcare field of surgical technician.
Jaisen Gomez is currently working as a home health aide for a client at General Shepard. He was the captain of the Boys Varsity Soccer team. He attends EMT courses at Westfield State University after school and on Saturdays. He did an internship at Baystate Noble’s telemetry unit and is currently doing an internship at the Westfield Fire Dept. He will be doing an internship at Baystate Noble’s emergency room later in the year. His desire is to become an EMT, continue on and get his paramedic so that he may work as a firefighter here in Westfield.
Tanya Gonchuk is currently working at Armbrook Village Assisted Living. She did an internship at Baystate Nobles telemetry unit. She also did an internship at Baystate Dental in Westfield. Her future plans are to pursue a career in the dental field by studying at Springfield Technical Community College.
Certified Nursing Assistants, Class of 2017 (L-R) Jaisen Gomez, Timothy Rudenko, Vitaliy Melnik, Marina Levkha, Tatyana Gonchuk and Ilona Gladysh, and their instructors Maureen Baillargeon and Sherry Ferrier. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Marina Levkha is currently working at Armbrook Village Assisted Living. She was a member of the girls varsity soccer team for 4 years. She did an internship at Baystate Noble Hospital on the telemetry unit, and at the YMCA in the preschool program. She also did an internship at Baystate Noble Sports and Rehab. She will be doing an internship at the Westfield Fire Department later in the year. She plans to go to STCC to start training for a career in social services.
Vitaliy Melnik is currently working at Heritage Hall Rehab in Agawam. He ran the YouLead Blood drive for 3 years while at WTA during his freshmen, sophomore and junior years. He transferred to Agawam High School his senior year and ran their blood drive while belonging to the FutureTeachers of America Club. His future plans are to continue his education in healthcare. He hopes to become a physician’s assistant or pursue a career in physical therapy.
Tim Rudenko is currently working at Big Y in customer service. He transferred to the high school and is working on an accelerated program to graduate with his peers. His future plans include working with people in a laboratory setting, and he plans to start by taking a phlebotomy course.
The program closed with all of the students reciting the CNA pledge.
