Nothing gives the members of the Southwest Georgia Technical College (SWGTC) family greater pride than seeing their alumni succeed. Lamar and Lolanda McBride are the perfect example of that success.

Last month, Lamar McBride, 1998 SWGTC radiologic technology (rad tech) graduate, was named administrative director of ancillary services at St. Anthony North Hospital in Westminster, Colo.

Upon graduation from Cairo High School, McBride was not prepared to leave home and attend a large university. He decided instead to start his higher education journey close to home at Southwest Georgia Technical College. During his second year, McBride found he was more focused than ever and felt he truly found his passion. It was at this time he met another SWGTC student, Lolanda, who was enrolled in the Practical Nursing program, at school one afternoon. Lamar recalled the meeting with great joy. The two fell in love and they now have been happily married for 13 years. Throughout their marriage, they have both made great strides in their careers and have celebrated each other’s accomplishments.

“Lamar always went the extra mile,” commented Wally Waldron, McBride’s instructor and current radiologic technology program director. “I always remember him asking to do additional clinical training under me on the night shift and weekends to gain additional experience with trauma patients. He was a very industrious student.”

After Lamar and Lolanda graduated in 1998, both were employed locally for three years before deciding to further their education. Lamar went on to receive his master of science in health services administration and his bachelor of science in health arts from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. Over the last 15 years, he has held various roles including director of medical imaging, assistant director of medical imaging, medical sales representative and traveling imaging and multi-modality technologist.

“Mr. Wally Waldron and the late Mrs. Lillie Gregory (former SWGTC Rad Tech instructor) truly laid the foundation for my career success. Because of the mentoring they provided during my time at SWGTC, I have had the opportunity to travel the country and realize success I never thought I could,” said Lamar, MSHA, RT (R)(CT), RDMS, RVT.

In his new position as administrative director of ancillary services he directs and coordinates all administrative aspects of ancillary services (radiology, respiratory therapy, laboratory services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology, wound care clinic and hyperbaric medicine, pharmacy, medical records, and cardiac rehab), sets policies and procedures, and ensures all services meet the objectives of the organization.

He added that he has had the opportunity to hire a number of students out of radiologic technology schools around the county, and has seen a large number of those graduates who are not prepared to hit the ground running once hired. Many of them require several weeks of training and mentoring before confident or skilled enough to work independently. As a graduate of the Radiology Technology program at SWGTC, Lamar says he felt that he was prepared and had mastered the skills necessary to perform his job responsibilities.

“I can still hear Wally when I am working toward a new goal. He always said, “Never Stop Learning” and those words have inspired me time and time again. The technical and clinical environments I had the opportunity to be exposed to while in college, along with the mentoring by my instructors, gave me the skills, knowledge, and confidence I needed to challenge myself and continue my education and career success,” said McBride.

Lolanda says her experience at Southwest Georgia Technical College was the foundation and motivating factor in continuing her education. She is working to finish her master of science nurse practitioner degree.

“The fundamentals I was taught at SWGTC and the intense hands-on experience truly prepared me for the workforce. My experience at SWGTC deeply rooted my passion for nursing and has motivated me to continue my education,” commented Lolanda McBride, BSN.

The McBrides visit local family frequently and often stop by SWGTC to see all the changes, growth, and of course, check-in with the instructors that continue to inspire them 15 years later.

SWGTC offers more than 80 certificate, diploma, and degree programs. Many of these programs provide training for some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields including Nursing, Automotive Technology, Clinical Laboratory Technology, and Criminal Justice Technology. For more information on the Radiology Technology program at SWGTC, call 229-225-4096 or visit www.southwesgatech.edu.

Spring Semester 2013 begins Jan. 7.

Southwest Georgia Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.