Graduates of Physical Therapist Assistant Program to Be Honored
at Naugatuck Valley Community College Pinning Ceremony

The 2008 graduating class from the Connecticut Community College’s physical therapist assistant degree program.

Front row (left to right): Sheila Ryder, Sarah Fernandez, Nahum Oliva, Lucindia McInerny, David Woodford.  Middle row (left to right): Zim Tupas, Monica Lebiedz, Jackie Mercie, Kaitlyn Sabre, Dianna Hyland, Liz Timoteo, Carol White.  Back row (left to right): Mike Crowe, Jean Fabish, Enoch Buxton, Michelle George, Ruben Santiago, Jan Brezovsky.

Waterbury, Conn. - The 2008 graduating class from the Connecticut Community College’s physical therapist assistant degree program, based at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC), will be honored on Saturday, January 24, 2009 with a pinning ceremony on campus.

The program is offered through a collaborative agreement that includes NVCC, Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NCCC), Housatonic Community College (HCC), Capital Community College (CCC), Manchester Community College (MCC) and Tunxis Community College (TCC).

Students accepted to the program take the general education courses at their home campus and the physical therapist assistant courses at NVCC to complete an associate degree in science. Graduates become assistants to physical therapists and work in hospitals, school systems, private offices, home health agencies, industry, rehabilitation hospitals and nursing homes and assist in implementing treatment programs, training patients in exercises and activities of daily living and educating patients. 

Physical therapist assistants are currently in high demand and the need is expected to grow due to an increasingly aging population in need of medical and rehabilitation services.

The 2008 graduating class includes:
Jan Brezovsky (HCC student from Fairfield), Enoch Buxton (NVCC student from Hamden), John Michael Crowe (NVCC student from Woodbury), Jean Fabish (HCC student from Milford), Sarah Fernandez (MCC student from Norwich), Michelle George (NVCC student from Gaylordsville), Dianna Hyland (NVCC student from North Windham), Monica Lebiedz (NVCC student from Meriden), Jackie Mercey (NVCC student from Tariffville), Nahum Oliva (HCC student from Bridgeport), Sheila Ryder (TCC student from Southington), Kaitlyn Sabre (NVCC student from Seymour), Ruben Santiago (HCC student from Bridgeport), Liz Timoteo (NVCC student from Naugatuck), Zimri Tupas (TCC student from Southington), Carol White (TCC student from Simsbury), and David Woodford (HCC student from Milford).

In addition to associate degrees for physical therapist assistants, NVCC offers several other allied health programs to train professionals as health care providers, including associate degrees in nursing, radiologic technology and respiratory care as well as continuing education certificates for certified nurse aides and patient care technicians. The community college also provides a wide range of continuing education programs for those already working in health care.