Honoring 2025 Medical Assisting Grads

Medical Assisting students celebrated their achievements at the annual pinning ceremony.

On August 27, Clark celebrated its newest class of Medical Assisting graduates at the annual pinning ceremony.  

Nineteen graduates took the stage, followed by opening remarks by Dr. Scot Headley, Dean of Business and Health Sciences, and Dr. Terry Brown, Vice President of Instruction. Each leader warmly welcomed an audience filled with faculty, community partners, and proud family and friends who had supported the graduates throughout their journeys. 

Dr. Brown reflected on the significance of the profession by sharing a personal story of a recent visit to the emergency room with his wife. He recalled being deeply moved by the calm, steady presence of the medical staff. “You will often be the first person that people encounter when they’re in distress,” he told the graduates. “Never discount the work you'll be doing.” 

He also offered a thoughtful perspective on the meaning of medical assisting, noting that the Greek roots of the phrase can be interpreted as either “standing by to heal” or “healing by standing by”. 

Among those celebrating with the graduates were Trustee Suzanne Donaldson and representatives from WorkSource, which has provided $80,000 in training and tuition support to Clark Medical Assisting students over the past five years. 

The ceremony's most significant moment came when graduates received their pins. The tradition dates back to the 12th century and became widely known in 1860, when Queen Victoria awarded Florence Nightingale with a jeweled pin for her service as a nurse during the Crimean War.  

Today, the ritual continues as a symbol of dedication to the profession. One by one, graduates invited a special person—parents, children, spouses, siblings, or close friends—to present their pins on stage, recognizing the role of loved ones in their success. 

Another highlight was the presentation of the Maxine Williams Award by Dr. Sarah Kuzera, Director of Medical Assisting. Named for the co-founder and first president of the American Associate of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the award honors students who exemplify leadership and dedication to the field. 

This year’s award recipient was Mallorie Quiring, who also earned the prestigious Maxine Williams Scholarship. Only a handful of these scholarships are awarded nationwide each year, and Mallorie is the first Clark student to receive one. In her speech, she expressed gratitude for her classmates and faculty, saying, “This program helps you actually feel prepared for anything that might arise in the real world.” 

Honorable mentions were awarded to two graduates: Kenisha Williams, who accepted a position with the Vancouver Clinic, and Meghan Zeller, described as the cornerstone of her cohort, who advocated for her peers when externship opportunities were limited. 

The evening concluded with a powerful moment as the graduates stood together to recite the Medical Assistant Creed for the first time: 

“I believe in the principles and purposes of the profession of medical assisting. 

I endeavor to be more effective. 

I aspire to render greater service. 

I protect the confidence entrusted to me. 

I am dedicated to the care and well-being of all patients. 

I am loyal to my physician-employer. 

I am true to the ethics of my profession. 

I am strengthened by compassion, courage, and faith.” 

See additional photos from the ceremony on Clark’s Flickr account. 

Learn More About Clark's Medical Assisting Program

Medical assistants maintain the daily workflow of a medical office and work directly with physicians and patients to ensure a productive experience in a variety of healthcare environments. Work activities for a medical assistant vary depending on the medical setting but often include customer service, administrative and clinical tasks.  

Clark College’s Medical Assisting program prepares students for both front-office clerical and back-office clinical medical assistant responsibilities by providing cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning competencies.  

Learn more: Medical Assisting program at Clark. 

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley