WPCC Graduates Inaugural Class of Vet Assistant Students

Earlier this month, Western Piedmont Community College held a graduation ceremony for the first Vet Assistant class. This new Continuing Education course launched in September 2022 with 11 students enrolled. 

Vet Assistant students.

Destiny Bartlett, Cora Buff, Destiny Detter, Brooke Huffsteler, Taylor Hylemon, Sydney Kuhns. Iyonna Lewis, Macie Moua, Clarissa Taylor Pons, Keeley Tipton, and Aerith Webb were enrolled and participated in the graduation ceremony.  

Student Destiny Detter spoke at the ceremony and shared what the class meant to her.  

“I felt this class really helped me excel in understanding why we take the precautions we should with our animals and why being in the field is so important to not only us as people but also to the animals that we see and care for every day,” Deter said. “This class has given me the chance to have confidence in taking the leap of changing my career to something I’ve been dreaming about my entire life.”  

Students learned about the basic roles in a veterinary clinic and the expectations of the employer, veterinary terminology, laws and policies in a veterinary clinic, anatomy and physiology, animal behavior and restraint, laboratory skills, pharmacy skills, aiding in surgery and dental procedures.  

“I am so excited to be a part of the new Veterinary Assistant program at Western Piedmont. This has been a wonderful first class to work with. We had a few learning curves, and the students were patient as we navigated this new course together,” WPCC Instructor Leslie Buchanan said. “This course is a wonderful introduction to veterinary medicine, to help students decide if this is a career path they want to continue. I look forward to continued growth and improvement as we move forward.”  

For more information visit online at wpcc.edu/veterinary-assistant-program/