HAMMOND — The fifty-sixth graduating class of North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology was honored with a commencement ceremony the evening of Tuesday, July 1.
Program Director Heather Koepp proudly shared that the 2025 class has a 100% retention and job placement rate.
The 15 graduates include Ashlyn Betzer from Ponchatoula; Kaelyn Connella from Pearl River; Alexis Easlic from Slidell; Timothy Flanagan from Hammond; Brennen Gaudet from Houma; Mallory Guillie from Covington; Jonathan Kreamer from Hammond; Kamryn Michel from Covington; Katelyn Newman from Hammond; Kara Odinet from Hammond; Heaven Phillips from Thibodaux; Alleigh Raborn from Ponchatoula; Ashton Siebert from Ethel; Austin Smith from Hammond; and Olivia Watkins from Covington.
Connella, Easlic, Flanagan, Gaudet, Guillie, Kreamer, Michel, Newman, Odinet, Phillips, Raborn, Siebert, Smith and Watkins graduated with honors as members of Lambda Nu, a national honor society for the radiologic and imaging sciences. Membership requires that students maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average out of a possible 4.0.
The commencement was held at the E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center, located within North Oaks Diagnostic Center on the North Oaks Medical Center campus.
North Oaks Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Jarreau presided over the ceremony that concluded two years of study for the students involving 2,000 clinical hours and more than 1,200 classroom hours.
North Oaks Pastoral Care Director Keith Kincaid delivered the invocation, and Connella led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The commencement address was delivered by Suzanne Smith, a 1994 alumna of North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology and 31-year employee of North Oaks Health System. Smith currently serves as the health system’s Clinical Operations Manager for Radiology.
“Never forget that behind every image is a person who is counting on you do your best,” Smith reminded the graduates—highlighting the vital role radiologic technologists play in compassionate, diagnostic patient care.
Smith went on to encourage the graduates to evolve with their profession, “Embrace the challenges that come your way, for they are opportunities to grow, learn and make a difference.”
Before the presentation of diplomas by Koepp, outstanding achievement awards were given. North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology Didactic Instructor Ben Raney presented the Academic Award to Easlic for obtaining the highest overall scholastic average.
Guillie received the Dannye Young Taylor “Always Remembering Others” award, presented by Didactic Instructor Kenneth E. Travis, in recognition of selfless assistance to others and teamwork. Now retired, Taylor was a long-time patient representative for North Oaks Health System. Her husband, Dr. Rodney Taylor, established the award in tribute to her and her motto, “always remember others.”
The Performance and Attitude Award for exceptional performance in the clinical setting was presented to Kreamer by Stephanie A. McKenzie, the school’s clinical coordinator. Kreamer also received the CARE Award from Koepp in recognition of his commitment, good attitude, respect for others and perfect effort.
In Koepp’s remarks, she noted that many members of the class of 2025 received state and national acclaim through the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), Lambda Nu National Honor Society and Louisiana Society of Radiologic Technologists (LSRT).
North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology students swept the LSRT essay competition with Watkins placing first, Odinet placing second and Easlic placing third. Gaudet, who represented the school on the 2024-25 LSRT Student Council, also was selected as LSRT Student of the Year for 2024.
Easlic, Michel and Phillips completed the LSRT Student to Leadership Development Program, and Michel was chosen as the recipient of the 2024 LSRT Joe Schwartz Memorial Scholarship.
On the national stage, Michel and Phillips joined 109 students chosen nationwide to take part in the ASRT Student to Leadership Development Program. They were two of three students selected from Louisiana and the fourth and fifth students ever from North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology to participate. They also traveled to Reno, Nevada before graduation to represent North Oaks and the LSRT at the 2025 ASRT Educational Symposium and Annual Governance and House of Delegates meeting.
Rounding out the class of 2025’s accolades, Betzer, Easlic, Gaudet, Michel, Phillips and Watkins received ASRT Foundation Sponsor a Student Grants.
Koepp concluded her remarks by noting that Watkins will continue her education in nuclear medicine starting in August through Weber State University based in Ogden, Utah.
Established in 1967, North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology is accredited by Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The school offers a comprehensive 24-month program that provides classroom and clinical instruction to prepare students for careers in the field of diagnostic imaging, which is used to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists national certification examination and apply for Louisiana state licensure through the Louisiana State Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners.
Applications for the 2026-28 class will be accepted through June 1, 2026. Applications are available online at northoaks.org/careers. For more information, call North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology at (985) 230-7805.