CLEARLAKE, Calif. – More than 100 family, friends and colleagues were on hand to celebrate the 2018 Commencement Ceremony of the Lake County Office of Education Medical Assistant program on Tuesday, May 22, at the Cornelison Event Center in Clearlake.

The course instructors lauded this group of 15 graduates for being “motivated, focused and empathetic leaders.”

This graduating class received more honor roll rankings than any other previous medical assistant class. Six of the 15 students scored 90 percent or higher on their coursework to earn this honor.

Megan Wold earned the honor of valedictorian, and Micaela Martinez and Camilyn Wisely were named as salutatorians.

Wold congratulated her classmates, and thanked the Lake County Office of Education for providing the opportunity for adult education in Lake County.

The graduates completed 680 hours of instruction and administrative work over a nine-month period, starting their journey in September of 2017. Externships were performed at the Clearlake VA Clinic, where students earned real-life experience.

Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg opened the ceremonies by congratulating the graduates and telling them, “I can’t stop smiling. This is fantastic.”

Keynote speaker was Clearlake VA Clinic Director Carol Ann Brown, RN, BSN. Brown is a former medical assistant, and spoke about different career paths open to those with the medical assistant training.

The graduates sat for the National Certified Medical Assistant exam on Saturday, June 2. Once they pass, they will be recognized as nationally Certified Medical Assistants.

Several graduates already have job placement in the medical field.

Brown pointed out that there are hundreds of open positions for medical assistants right now, highlighting the importance of this vocation in the medical field.

For more information about adult education courses offered through the Lake County Office of Education, please go to www.lakecoe.org or contact Education Specialist Tammy Serpa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 707-263- 8918, Extension 284.