Brightpoint Community College Recognizes its First Graduating Class of the Radiologic Technology Program

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Holly Walker
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CHESTER and MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Nearly two years after launching its Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology, Brightpoint Community College celebrated its first program graduates during a pinning ceremony at the institution’s Chester Campus in May. Twelve students make up the program’s first graduating class. 

Brightpoint developed the radiologic technology program after leaders at HCA Virginia approached the college about industry need for technologists. With the help of HCA Virginia’s partnership, which included a nearly $3 million dollar gift and assistance in curriculum development, the college welcomed its first students into the program in August 2024. In the months that followed, students took part in rigorous classwork, hands-on learning in college labs, and in clinical experiences across Central Virginia. At the pinning ceremony, administrators, faculty, and students reflected on the program’s start to the current moment.

“It was the start of Summer in 2022, when an email was sent from then-CEO of Chippenham and Johnston-Willis Hospitals, Dr. William Lunn, to Dr. Ted Raspiller, then-president of Brightpoint,” said Dr. Bill Fiege, president of Brightpoint Community College. “It stated, ‘I was talking to Tim Talbott, my Radiology Director at Chippenham, and we have an idea and request.’ The idea: there is a community need for a new radiology school, and we think Brightpoint would be the perfect institution to offer this program. The request: Would you, or someone on your staff, be interested in exploring this? Ted responded back, ‘We will be delighted to explore a Radiology School concept with you.’ And here we are today with the first graduating class of the Brightpoint Community College Radiologic Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree program … We could not be more proud of you.”

“Less than two years ago, construction on the radiologic technology space ended on a Saturday,” said Stacey Shell, head of Brightpoint’s radiologic technology program. “You walked into that space on Monday morning with uncertainty and a willingness to try something challenging. You did not have a roadmap from previous classes. You all were the roadmap.” Shell went on to explain the rigors of the path the students took. “There were 16 rad courses and six labs totaling 117 days, 2854 pages of reading, 185 assignments, 57 quizzes, 46 procedural competencies, 40 exams, and 10 projects. Clinical experience totaling 168 days, 1425 hours, rotations at 12 different clinical sites working with over 200 technologists, 32 evaluations by staff, 1900 clinical procedures logged, 102 documented clinical practices, 51 ARRT required procedural competencies, over 300 continued comps along with 13 mock registries … What makes this moment so special is not only what you have completed but how much you all have grown.”

Timothy Talbott, imaging administrator for HCA Virginia’s Chippenham and Johnston-Willis Hospitals, welcomed the students to their new profession and recognized the important role they played as the first graduates of the program. “You are helping build something that will continue to impact this community for years to come. … Future students will walk into this program following in your footsteps. Patients throughout our community will receive better access to care because people like you have chosen this profession. Hospitals, imaging, and healthcare teams will become stronger because of the work that you are about to begin. … This partnership was built with the goal of creating opportunity, developing talent locally and strengthening patient care close to home. All of you represent that mission becoming a reality.”

“In healthcare, you are given an incredible gift,” said Lance Jones, CEO for Chippenham and Johnson-Willis Hospitals, “Somebody gives us their life every day to look after them and to care. You are now in a position to be able to do that with this program. We are very excited for the journey you've been on. Thank you very much for being the first class. Thank you very much for putting your stamp on the culture of the class, for the culture of kindness and how you conduct yourself as you go through your career. And we will look forward to seeing where it is that you take it.”

Two graduates, Lexi Church and Abagail Purdy, shared reflections on their journey through the program. “The Radiologic Technology class of 2026 is one to remember,” said Church. “Not only have we worked incredibly hard to reach this moment, but we are the very first cohort at Brightpoint. Being the first came with challenges we didn't expect. But it also showed us what we're capable of. We didn't just get through it. We grew through it.” “This has been one of the hardest things we've ever done,” said Purdy. “But it's also been one of the most rewarding, and now we stand here ready to begin a new chapter in medical imaging. The finish line isn't the end. It's the beginning. It's our time to shine.”

The 12 students who make up the first graduating class of Brightpoint’s radiologic technology program are:

• Samantha Asuncion-Estrada
• Chloe Bouchard
• Katelyn Carlson
• Hannah Chapman
• Lexi Church
• Sabrina Cimoli
• LaTreesa Hobson
• Steven Johnson
• Alfie Miller 
• Abagail Purdy
• David Scotto
• Tyra Talbott

Two of the graduates were recognized for their clinical and academic achievements.  

• Lexi Church received the Clinical Achievement Award, which honors a student who has consistently gone above and beyond in the clinical setting.
• Sabrina Cimoli received the Academic Achievement Award, which honors the student who has the highest radiologic technology grade point average. 

Students in the program also presented awards to three technologists for the support they provided during clinical experiences. Outstanding Technologist Awards were presented to:

• Jodie Germano of Parham Doctors Hospital
• Katie Abrams of Chesterfield Imaging
• Stephanie Packard of Henrico Doctors Hospital

Photographs taken at the Radiologic Technology Pinning Ceremony may be found in the Brightpoint’s Trailblazer Asset Bank.

Information about Brightpoint Community College’s Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology, including admissions requirements, classes and more, may be found on the college’s website.

About Brightpoint Community College
Brightpoint Community College, one of the largest institutions in the Virginia Community College System, envisions a success story for every student. Brightpoint offers students a high-quality, high-value education, with more than 80 majors that provide pathways to careers in in-demand fields; transfer opportunities to four-year colleges and universities; and industry credentials and licensures. The college, with campuses in Chester and Midlothian, online classes, and off-campus classrooms, served 12,686 students during the 2024-25 academic year. It also assisted 4,200 learners through Community College Workforce Alliance, the shared workforce division of Brightpoint and Reynolds community colleges.

About HCA Virginia
As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive provider network, HCA Virginia Health System operates 14 hospitals, 26 outpatient centers, eight freestanding emergency rooms, 12 urgent care centers, and is affiliated with over 3,100 physicians. The private hospital system is one of Virginia’s largest employers, provides more than $123 million in charity and uncompensated care, pays $383.4 million in state and local taxes annually and has $6.2 billion in economic impact on the Commonwealth each year. HCA Virginia hospitals include Chippenham, Henrico Doctors’, TriCities, Johnston-Willis, Parham Doctors’, Retreat Doctors’, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, LewisGale Medical Center, LewisGale Hospital Pulaski, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, LewisGale Hospital Alleghany, Reston Hospital Center, StoneSprings Hospital Center and Dominion Hospital.