Students Breathe Life into Their Futures

Students Breathe Life into Their Futures

• Students
• 05/14/2026

"Respiratory Therapy is more than a career. It means being there for people during some of the hardest moments of their lives," said Respiratory Care Program Valedictorian Christina Petges during Rock Valley College's Respiratory Care Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in the Stenstrom Student Center Atrium.

The ceremony honored 12 graduates as they officially entered the respiratory care profession following the completion of one of the college's most rigorous health sciences programs. Surrounded by faculty, family members, classmates, and friends, graduates reflected on the dedication and perseverance that brought them to this milestone.

"Today, it's about all of us and the journey that brought us here," Petges continued. "We've made it through one of the toughest programs together, and now we're stepping into a profession where we will make a real difference in people's lives every single day, one breath at a time."

Dean of Health Sciences Carrie Gulbrandsen reminded graduates that the pinning ceremony represented more than academic completion, it marked their entrance into the profession of respiratory therapy.

"Commencement is the celebration of your academic achievement. You are college graduates now, which means you're in a minority population in this community, and that is something to be very proud of," Gulbrandsen said. "Today is about you joining the profession of respiratory therapists. Now when someone asks you what you do, you'll say, 'I'm a respiratory therapist.'"

Dr. Howard Spearman, President of Rock Valley College, congratulated the graduates while encouraging them to continue growing both personally and professionally.

"Thank you for believing in yourself to step on this campus, to complete those applications, to step into that classroom, to trust your faculty, and get to the point where you're at today," Spearman said. "Now that you've had the courage and the audacity to succeed, there are opportunities for you to encourage others."

RVC Trustee Bob Trojan also addressed the audience, recognizing the unique bond shared among members of this graduating class, including Sandra Mendoza and Cristobal Valdez, a mother and son who completed the program together.

Graduates recognized during the ceremony included Alexis Allen, Moraima Diaz-Carrera, Jason Hipe, Ashley Lark, Holly Lavicka, Sandra Mendoza, Christina Petges, Bianca Rosales, William Ryan, Morgann Spelman, Cristobal Valdez, and Tanisha Wainwright.

During the ceremony, Christina Petges and Holly Lavicka were also recognized for induction into the Lambda Beta Honor Society, a national honor society for the profession of respiratory care.

Respiratory Care is an allied health profession focused on treating patients with cardiopulmonary, or heart and lung, conditions. Through classroom instruction, laboratory training, and clinical experiences, graduates of Rock Valley College's program are prepared to work locally and nationally as Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs), serving as vital members of the healthcare team.

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