View All Photos On June 18, 2024, the GACTC celebrated the accomplishments of 50 adult students that successfully completed several postsecondary career-training diploma programs with a ceremony at the GACTC. Graduates, GACTC administration, staff, faculty, Joint Operating Committee members, families, and friends attended to recognize the graduates' accomplishments. Mr. Eric Palmer, Executive Director, provided congratulatory remarks to the graduates. Several graduates shared messages to the graduates and attendees, including: Aaron Cassidy, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program Alicia Hurd, Medical Assistant program Kylie Smith, Welding with Print Reading program Faith Warwick, Expanded Function Dental Assistant program Julie Patosky, Continuing Education [...]

On June 13th, a health career fair was held at the GACTC for current adult health sciences students and alumni, including students and alumni from our practical nursing, medical assistant, and phlebotomy programs. More than 30 employers attended to promote their organization’s open positions! GACTC students have been preparing references, resumes, cover letters, and growing their professionalism skills, which they were able to put to good use at the career fair. Employers that attended represented area hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and rehabilitation centers.   They were eager to share their opportunities with our locally trained workforce, and students [...]

The GACTC graduated 26 students from the full-time Practical Nursing program on August 17, 2023. Graduation activities included a pinning ceremony on August 15th and commencement, held on August 17th at the Altoona Area High School. The “pinning ceremony,” a symbolic welcoming of new nurses into the profession, can be dated as far back as the 12th century, and became standard in the United States by 1916. During the ceremony, students are pinned by nursing faculty. The commencement ceremony on August 17th honored the practical nursing students through conferral of diplomas, awards, and honors. The evening included remarks from [...]

On August 10, 2023, the GACTC celebrated the accomplishments of nine postsecondary students that successfully completed the Expanded Function Dental Assistant or Medical Assistant diploma programs. Collectively, our nine graduates completed more than 11,112 training hours in these programs; our Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) students participated in 480 hours of clinical experiences with local dental offices, and our Medical Assistant students end their coursework with a 240-hour clinical externship with a local medical facility. Students had the opportunity to gain industry-valued certifications as part of these career-training programs including: From the EFDA program: CPR & First Aid Occupational Safety [...]