Healing-Hands-Bright-Futures.php

Healing Hands, Bright Future

• Students
• 05/08/2026

Students, families, and faculty gathered on May 6 for Rock Valley College’s Massage Therapy Program Graduation Celebration.

For the seven graduates, the evening marked the end of an intense year of learning and the beginning of a new chapter in the wellness field.

Cassandra A. Fortin, Samantha Huntress, Rhet Martin, Nila Lewers, Kara Reinagle, Ashlyn Schwarz, and Avery Tucker made up the program’s newest graduating class. The group brought a mix of backgrounds and experiences, including students supported through the Trace Trade Grant program and Workforce Connection initiatives. Along the way, they also adapted to a major change as the program transitioned into a newly expanded facility.

Program Director Jamie Fanara said that experience helped shape the group in meaningful ways.

“This cohort showed a great deal of resilience and adaptability,” Fanara said. “They stayed committed through change, supported each other, and really grew into professionals who are ready to enter the field.”

Their training covered far more than massage techniques. Over the course of the 12-month program, one of the last classes to complete this format before it shifts to a nine-month structure. Students studied anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, pathology, ethics, communication, and business practices. They also gained hands-on experience through community outreach and the student clinic.

Instructor Russell Carroll reflected on how much the group had taken on over the past year.

“You supported each other through everything,” he said. “Like the muscles of the body, each of you has your own role, but together you created something strong.”

That support system extended beyond the classroom, with family and friends playing a role in helping students reach the finish line. Carroll acknowledged those behind-the-scenes contributions, noting that many loved ones were there through study sessions, practice hours, and the ups and downs of the year.

Faculty members recognized the group not only for their skills, but for their professionalism and compassion, qualities that will carry into their careers.

This class represents both a milestone and a transition for the program, but more importantly, it represents seven individuals ready to step into the field with confidence and purpose.

“This program is so much more than learning how to give a massage. You’ve learned how to take what’s in your books and turn it into real care for the people you’ll work with every day.”

Russell Caroll, Massage Therapy Program Instructor