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Rep. David B. McKinley speaks at WLU commencement

PA GRADUATION — West Liberty University held a commencement Friday for its Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, including seated from left, Chad Eckard, Brandon Bolduc, Lauren Healy, Caitlyn Asbury, Jillian Laslo, Julia Gotthardt and President Stephen Greiner, and in back, U.S. Rep. David B. McKinley, Daniel Burns, Emily Butler, Ryan Killpack, Chelsea Camerlengo, Laura Waialae, Ceirra Zeigler, Courtney Pyeritz, Autumn Cunningham, Kimberly Rinard and Jon-Michael Brunner. -- Contributed

WEST LIBERTY — West Liberty University held its Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies commencement at 6 p.m., Friday, in Kelly Theatre, with U.S. Rep. David B. McKinley as keynote speaker.

Program Director William Childers, EdD, MS, PA-C, also welcomed guests and McKinley, R-Wheeling, as he spoke about the program, its faculty and the students.

“We are honored that Congressman McKinley took time out of his busy schedule to be with us,” said President Stephen Greiner. “I congratulate the Class of 2018. This is the first class that I saw admitted after my arrival a few years ago and I’m sure that there will be no finer class than this first group of students that I met. I wish you well in your professions and future.”

“We are fortunate that students from around the region and the country choose WLU to guide their journey towards becoming an integral part of the health-care team, providing empathetic and competent care to the patients they serve in the local area and beyond,” Childers said.

McKinley congratulated the new PAs and shared with the graduates and guests his memory of a sermon he heard once at St. Matthews Church in Wheeling that highlighted the songs in each individual just waiting to be sung.

“I challenge you all to achieve your goal and reach your potential. To fulfill the American Dream and overcome obstacles along the way to singing your song, the song that is in each of us,” McKinley said.

He went on to mention the debate about healthcare that he participates in daily in Congress.

“I applaud you for taking on this career. PAs are a critical part of healthcare and are needed, especially in rural areas. You will help our country and state ensure that families have access to good healthcare. I challenge you to stay in West Virginia,” he added. “I see songs ready to burst out of you. Our nation will be stronger because of you.”

McKinley has represented the 1st Congressional District since 2011 and is a resident of Wheeling. He is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he is able to influence legislation on energy, healthcare and technology.

Graduate student speaker Jillian Laslo of Shadyside, also offered reflections on her experience in the PA program. Laslo is the president of the West Liberty University Physician Assistant student society and also earned her bachelor’s in Pre-Medicine at WLU in 2016.

She described the uncertainties that her classmates and she had when they began the rigorous program two years ago.

“But what we didn’t know was how much PA school would change us to be better versions of ourselves. We didn’t know just how awesome our future careers will be or what we were actually capable of,” she explained.

She ended by stating that the one certainty she has is “that our class will be successful in wherever life takes us.”

After passing her board exams and receiving her official license, Laslo will be working at Wheeling Hospital as a surgical PA for Dr. Howard Shackelford, who also is the medical director of the WLU physician assistant program.

The Class of 2018 and their hometowns include: Caitlyn Asbury, New Cumberland; Brandon Bolduc, Weirton; Jon-Michael Brunner, Wheeling; Daniel Burns, Wheeling; Emily Butler, Washington, W.Va.; Chelsea Camerlengo, Weirton; Autumn Cunningham, Georgetown, Pa.; Chad Eckard, Greenville, Pa.; Julia Gotthardt, Southbury, Conn.; Lauren Healy, Bloomington, Ind.; Ryan Killpack, Firth, Idaho; Jillian Laslo, Shadyside; Courtney Pyeritz, Pittsburgh; Kimberly Rinard, Wardensville, W.Va.; Laura Waialae, Wheeling and Ceirra Zeigler, New Cumberland.

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