Wallace State Celebrates Sonography Graduates

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program celebrated the success of its graduates in the Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN) associate degree option during a pinning ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Program director Dr. April Sutherland congratulated the graduates and continued her tradition of describing the group with one word. 

“For your class, the word that came to mind was compassion,” Sutherland said. “You are some of the most caring, compassionate students we have seen come through. You’ve given of your time, whether it’s volunteering to help us instructors, or show new students what they can expect, or making cute gifts for new students to make them feel more comfortable and less intimidated. You all are such caring people.”

She said that quality will play a huge role in their careers. 

“Being with your patient in some of the most joyous times, as well as some of the worst of their lives, requires you to show them compassion…and I have no doubt whatsoever that you are all equipped to do just that.”

Class President Kaylee Ellison of Hayden expressed her gratitude to Dr. Sutherland and all the instructors who encouraged them. 

“You never once doubted that we would all make it here today,” Ellison said. “You poured wisdom and knowledge into us, and you have played a huge role in the sonographers we are and are going to be.”

The pinning ceremony symbolizes the graduates’ completion of the program, as well as their transition into professional practice as diagnostic medical sonographers. Sutherland congratulated all the graduates for passing their OB registries, “proving your knowledge and ability to do your best for your patient.”

  

During the ceremony, awards were presented to Kaylee Clabough of Hartselle as Valedictorian and Marlana Reeves of Springville for Clinical Excellence. 

Members of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography OB/GYN Class of 2026 include Brooke Baker of Harvest; Hannah Caudle of Huntsville; Kaylee Clabough of Hartselle (class vice president); Kaylee Ellison (class president) and Cairi Holt of Hayden (class historian); Bryleigh Holman of Hazel Green; Natalie Kelley of Birmingham (class treasurer); Marlana Reeves of Springville (class secretary); Holly Selman of Alabaster; and Caroline Thornton of Rockford. 

Wallace State’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program offers three associate degree options for students: General/Vascular, Cardiovascular and Obstetrics & Gynecology. Applications for admission are accepted annually from March 1 to June 1 for fall entry. For more information, visit wallacestate.edu/health, call 256.352.8307, or email jennifer.craig@wallacestate.edu.

Fall 2026 classes will begin Aug. 17, with registration for Regular and Mini Term I open through Aug. 21. Mini Term II classes will begin Oct. 14. Contact Lion Central at 256.352.8236 or come by the Hanceville or Oneonta campus centers. Current and incoming students may schedule an advising session with the Center for Student Success at www.wallacestate.edu/advising.

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.