August 30, 2022: Ashley Gaul (CFCC Sonography Lab Instructor) came up behind me while I was scanning on the Juniper machine and said, “Oh, are you Lisa’s daughter?” I said, “Yeah, how do you know my mom?” She replied, “Oh, um… Amber (Vencill).” I texted my mom and asked her how to handle the situation, and she advised I talk to Kellee Stacks (CFCC Sonography Program Director). During lunch, I walked up to Kellee’s office and explained to her what had just happened with Ashley, and that Amber Vencill had previously dated my brother, Connor, but they had since broken up. I told her I was aware that Amber had engaged in negative talk about our family, and she was shocked to hear that Amber could do such a thing. I was discouraged to feel targeted on my very first day of this program based on my brother’s relationship with Amber - something that does not have any bearing on my personal education. It made me uncomfortable that people (lab instructors and clinical instructors) knew things about my personal life before they ever even met me.

*Amber Vencill is a Clinical Instructor at NHRMC, one of the clinical rotations for the Sonography program at CFCC. She also graduated from the CFCC Medical Sonography program in 2016*

September 6, 2022: I completed my aorta competency exam and received a 92.

September 20, 2022: We began scanning the liver.

September 28, 2022: Kellee Stacks and Angela Meeker (Instructor, CFCC Sonography Program) cornered me before I left for the day and asked me if I liked the program. The conversation spiraled and they asked me what was going on with me, and eventually told me I could “always come back next year.” After just a month in, I was already being talked into leaving?

September 29, 2022: I met with Kellee and Laura and expressed my excitement and ability to perform well in the program.

October 18, 2022: I completed my liver competency exam and received an 88.

October 19, 2022: Angela met with me to review my liver competency exam and, while doing so, discussed with me that I don’t take constructive criticism and that I’m defensive while reviewing my studies. I told her I get, “a million different opinions and am told a million different things by different people on how to do things.” She informed me that during their “pow wows,” the lab instructors say I’m defensive and don’t take criticism, so I don’t ask for their opinion/review. My explanation for this was that I get different responses and only ask the 3 who will be grading me (Laura Currie, Angela Meeker, Kellee Stacks). I gave her two examples of when I’ve taken criticism from two different instructors and applied it, but she glazed over that fact. She also told me to not go into this (program) thinking I know what I’m doing and thinking that I’m great. I told her I definitely don’t think that. She said in the week leading up to the liver competency exam, “You started going ‘shit, I’ve gotta pass this,’ and the stress just radiated out. While I like to see that you care, you just put that out there and the stress was coming from you.” All of the lab instructors were gathered in the middle of the room watching this situation unfold but did not bother to talk to me at all this week.

November 29, 2022: I completed my right upper quadrant competency exam and received a 91.

December 6, 2022: I was informed by Angela that I was “teetering,” in reference to my grades… that were perfectly within passing range. (76-100). Angela also referred to my brother and Amber’s relationship for the third or fourth time, and I informed her I have no issues with Amber and to not hesitate to send me to NHRMC.

December 13, 2022: I completed my lab scanning/written final and received a 100.

January 9, 2023: I began my clinical rotation at Delaney Radiology. There are three sonographers (Bri Barkei, Lisa Carter, and Katie Miller) employed at Delaney that graduated with Amber Vencill. I was told by the lead sonographer, Sarah Robinson, “I don’t give two shits about teaching students, so you’re gonna have to find someone else to do that for you.”

January 27, 2023: I texted Laura Currie and asked her to give me a phone call regarding my time at Delaney Radiology. I explained to her that Angela presented the possibility of moving my classmate from her clinical site for not receiving enough scan time, but she did not make that offer to me. We were both going through the same issue with scan time, but she offered that to my classmate week one of clinicals, even though we both voiced our concerns. Laura explained to me that Delaney is known for not giving students enough scan time or comps, and just to continue asking and pay attention to things other than scanning to soak up the whole experience.

January 31, 2023: Angela called Lisa Carter, my clinical instructor at Delaney Radiology, to discuss my time at Delaney. During this phone call, Angela informed Lisa I would be going on a plan of action due to my failing clinical evaluation…that I wasn’t due to receive for another week.

February 2, 2023: I completed my renal/spleen competency exam and was asked to rescan.

February 6, 2023: I received my mid-evaluation from Delaney Radiology and was flagged for receiving less than an 84% in the communication and performance categories. I was given, at most, ten to fifteen minutes to scan any patient. This evaluation resulted in me going on a plan of action…just like Angela “predicted.” Lisa Carter reported this information back to Amber Vencill stating that her evaluation of me, “sealed the deal” in terms of me being dismissed from the sonography program.

February 9, 2023: I completed my rescan for the renal/spleen competency exam and did not pass. Angela reviewed my second exam with me, and I told her I was not getting enough scan time at Delaney Radiology. I also voiced my concerns regarding the mistruths that were written in my mid-evaluation, but she was more focused on the renal/spleen competency. She mentioned to me Amber dating my brother again, and I explained that I have never mentioned it to anyone and I’m tired of it being brought up to me, because I haven’t mentioned it to anyone.

I went home and requested a phone call with Kellee and Laura to explain the full extent of my experience at Delaney Radiology. I informed them I did not receive enough scan time at Delaney, and I also explained the relationship between Connor and Amber and how I believed it was playing a role in my education… all the way from the comment Ashley Gaul made to me until that moment. I also informed Kellee and Laura that I had begun recording my interactions with individuals at Delaney Radiology, as it was becoming almost a requirement to be able to recollect the events that had transpired during the course of the day at clinicals. I received a text message from Angela that evening saying she expected me to put forth 100% effort going forward with the program.

February 13, 2023: First day back at Delaney Radiology following the mid-evaluation and my conversation with Kellee and Laura. The sonographers at Delaney Radiology were no longer hostile towards me; however, they ignored my existence until the end of the rotation.

On this evening, Angela created my plan of action for the failing clinical evaluation. Additionally, she took it upon herself to sign my initials to the plan of action before I ever saw it. She later denied this in CFCC’s answer to the lawsuit.

February 15, 2023: I had a meeting with Angela regarding the two categories that Delaney Radiology’s mid-evaluation flagged. She asked me to create a plan of action as to how I would improve my score in these two categories. While showing me the plan of action she had created, Angela informed me she had signed my initials to the form. Furthermore, she informed me my clinical site for the second half of spring semester had been moved to a site that allowed for more scan time versus sending me to the site my classmate had complained about… for lack of scan time. Angela expressed to me that she would like things to stay between the two of us and that if I had an issue, to discuss it with her (not Kellee and Laura).

February 16, 2023: I completed the renal/spleen competency exam and my first and third grades were averaged together for a 78.

March 1, 2023: I completed my duplex carotid competency exam and received a 100.

March 2, 2023: I completed my thyroid competency exam and received a 98.

March 15, 2023: I received my final evaluation from Delaney Radiology on my last day there, and it was flagged as well. No action was taken by me or my instructors. During my time at Delaney Radiology, I had aorta, liver, and renal images submitted to the radiologist for interpretation. Delaney Radiology provided me with one competency in the aorta after completing 12 aortas while on rotation there (despite only having to complete 2 to be considered “competent”).

We began lower extremity venous scans, but focused only on the thigh veins.

 March 17, 2023: Open lab was cancelled because one of the students in the medical sonography class tested positive for COVID.

March 20, 2023: I began my clinical rotation at Medical Plaza. I performed an entire renal exam--the very competency exam I had just failed-- and had my images submitted to the radiologist for interpretation on day 1.

March 22, 2023: I was asked to sit out of the three-hour scan lab for the lower extremity venous scans, as we had an odd number. None of the lab instructors laid down for me to scan their leg, so I was left without a partner. I felt ostracized, having not been given the opportunity to practice this type of scan, while all of my classmates were given the opportunity to scan each other.

March 24, 2023: All students spent their open lab time preparing for the pelvic gynecology competency exam on April 6th.

March 29, 2023: We continued the lower extremity venous scanning. I had a student partner, and the “odd man out” had a lab instructor lay down for them to practice. I noticed that this differed from the week I was asked to sit out. This trend would continue.

March 31, 2023: The schedule for the OB simulator competency exam was released the week prior and I chose to spend time preparing for that, as I felt comfortable in my abilities in the pelvic gynecology exam. My OB simulator competency exam was scheduled for 10:00 am on April 21st. I also knew we did not have open lab on April 7th or April 14th, which would only allow April 21st for lower extremity practice.

April 5, 2023: We continued the lower extremity venous scanning. I had a student partner, and the “odd man out” had a lab instructor lay down for them to practice.

April 6, 2023: I completed my pelvic gynecology competency exam and received a 100.

April 7, 2023: There was no open lab due to Good Friday.

April 12, 2023: We continued the lower extremity venous scanning. I had a student partner, and the “odd man out” had a lab instructor lay down for them to practice. 

April 14, 2023: There was no open lab due to the Azalea Festival.

April 19, 2023: We continued the lower extremity venous scanning. I had a student partner, and the “odd man out” had a lab instructor lay down for them to practice.

April 21, 2023: I completed my OB simulator competency exam and received a 92.

This was my first day spending time on the calf veins and I had to ask my classmates for assistance. I was told by a lab instructor that, “the anatomy’s not correct, but the images are pretty” in reference to my lower extremity images. When asked for help, the instructor walked off. I again felt ostracized. I expect my lab instructors to instruct me and correct me on things that are not correct. Instead, I was ignored, no direction was given, and I had to turn to my classmates for help.

April 26, 2023: I completed my lower extremity venous competency exam and during the exam, was trying to remember the next image to take, when Kellee (who I was scanning) told me, “Just look at your sheet.” “I can’t; this is our comp,” I told her, and she said, “Oh…” I was asked to rescan two days later in open lab. A student in the cardiovascular program (who is a part of the same vascular class as me) informed me that Laura had allowed the cardiovascular students to use their protocol sheets during their competency exam. The cardiovascular students take the same vascular class as us, and also take the same exam. Our class was not allowed to refer to protocol sheets that indicate the images required. The cardiovascular class was allowed to refer to protocol sheets. I felt this was clear discrimination and gave an unfair advantage to a group of students taking the same exam.

April 27, 2023: I received an email from Laura informing me that, in the interest of time, I would just be performing the thigh portion of the lower extremity venous comp and omitting the calf vein portion, as she informed me in the email, “I already know you can get those (images of the calf veins).”

April 28, 2023: I completed the thigh portion of the lower extremity venous competency exam (was again not allowed to use the protocol sheet) and was asked to rescan the entire protocol again on May 3rd.

I completed my ankle brachial index competency exam and received a 100.

May 3, 2023: I completed the entire lower extremity venous competency exam again (protocol sheet not allowed for the 3rd time) and am not given my score. I find this to be odd as I typically receive my score same day.

May 4, 2023: Kellee sent a text to all of my lab instructors informing them of my dismissal from the program before I was told. The lab instructors then proceeded to disseminate my information to third parties, among those being Sicilia Cipalla and Amber Vencill, who celebrated my demise.

May 4, 2023: After presenting my abdomen case study, Angela informed me Laura was waiting for me in the lab. I went into the storage room nestled between the medical and cardiovascular sonography labs, where I was informed that due to the grade on my final and the fact that I did not follow protocol, I did not pass and that was going to inhibit me from continuing with the program.

May 6, 2023: I texted two cardiovascular students for clarification on their ability to use the protocol during the lower extremity venous competency exam. One student confirmed that they were allowed to use it only when they needed it. The other cardiovascular student I reached out to informed me that Laura asked the student if they used the protocol during the exam, to which the student answered yes. The student told me that Laura “cringed, and said she forgot to tell y’all (medical sonography) that you could reference the sheet if needed.” I texted Laura to inquire about what exactly was the issue with this competency exam that I had completed, and her response included “missing images” and “images that were not required.” This could have been avoided had I been offered the same opportunity as the cardiovascular students that were in my class. Had I been given the equal opportunity as the cardiovascular students to reference the protocol, I had no doubts that I would’ve passed this competency exam.

May 8, 2023: I went to clinicals and noticed my clinical instructor was surprised to see me. She asked to speak to me and had a conversation with me about what my status was regarding the program. She mentioned she expressed to Kellee, Laura, and Angela that I was, “a busy bee, teachable, and progressing.” I told her I think there was a perception put out about me before I even got into the program, and she interrupted me to say, “The things I know about you have nothing to do with you. They have nothing to do with Camryn.” I responded, “And that right there is an issue.” I attended the pinning ceremony for graduating second years and, while there, was avoided by every clinical instructor minus my own at Medical Plaza. The only two lab instructors to acknowledge me were Hali Southerland and Bobbie Jean Schambers. I was approached by Angela after the pinning ceremony and she asked, “Did I hear when you walked into Med Mall today that you got a vibe that Rachel was surprised to see you?” I replied, “Yeah! I told her that. She looked surprised to see me.” Angela immediately became defensive and said, “It wasn’t any of the three of us (Kellee, Laura, Angela). I’m assuming one of the part time lab instructors—” “Mm. That’s bad.” I interrupted. “I know… I just need you to know,” Angela said. “That’s bad,” I said again. Angela replied, “It is. That’s not appropriate.” I approached Angela later and demanded to know who violated my privacy, and she said she did not know, but that she would get to the bottom of it. I said again, “That’s something we gotta figure out. That’s when I start getting concerned about—” Angela interrupted, “Confidentiality; it goes with everything else.” I was not pleased with this response and approached Laura and said, “I mentioned to Angela, the confidentiality? That’s gotta be solved. I’m not going to put that one down. For sure. So that has got to be figured out. I know we have that (who leaked my dismissal) narrowed down based on the person’s position, but that one hundred percent has to be figured out, so I’m not gonna lay that one down. That’s a big deal. It has to be figured out because it’s my personal business.” Laura mentioned she could take some time over the summer to look into it, and I responded that I would not be dropping it. I approached Kellee and asked her to send all of the lab instructors a text message demanding to know who violated my privacy. I informed her it was non-negotiable and that I would need an answer by tomorrow, and she said ok. When I got home, I sent a text to Kellee, Angela, and Laura confronting them about the origin of the leak. Angela informed me the lab instructors were involved in grading my final lower extremity competency exam and that, “there were more people that would understand what (the failing score) would represent.” Angela informed me that they had a meeting with the department chair the following day (May 9th).

**At the time of dismissal in May of 2023, I had completed 6 competency exams and was “ready to comp” on 4 additional exams. The minimum number of competency exams CFCC Medical Sonography students are required to have by the end of the spring semester is 3. I had 3 more than that and, if the “ready to comp” exams were inputted at the time of dismissal, I would have had the total competencies required for students to have completed by the end of the summer semester. I had my images submitted every day to the radiologist for interpretation when I was at Medical Plaza. One exception to this fact is a sonographer who is friends with Amber Vencill (Sicilia Cipalla) filled in for one of my clinical instructors and when I scanned, all of my images were deleted from that day’s exams. When this sonographer followed my images, none of the images I took were submitted to the radiologist. The very objective of clinicals for a sonography student is to have their images submitted for interpretation by a radiologist. When Sicilia Cipalla filled in for my clinical instructor, I was not afforded this opportunity.**

May 10, 2023: I met with Robby McGee, Dean of Student Affairs at CFCC. I brought my mom and brother along for support and to explain the situation. During the meeting, he informed us this was going to go, “all the way to the top.” Dean McGee was given a copy of this timeline and immediately escalated the situation up to Brandon Guthrie, Vice President of Academic Affairs.

May 11, 2023: Kellee Stacks sent a text to my clinical instructor after she had already evaluated me and submitted it. This grade was lowered by Angela Meeker following Kellee’s text message to my clinical instructor.

May 15, 2023: I met with Wendy Neal, the Quality Assurance Manager at Delaney Radiology. I explained to her briefly the scheme that had been set in motion and eventually had me removed from the sonography program. I showed her the text messages between Amber and Lisa Carter (sonographer at Delaney) exchanging patient history and images back and forth breaking HIPAA. She took all of this information to HR, and it was escalated to the top. Other than me providing the text messages to her in paper form, I did not hear from Delaney Radiology again, except when they sought representation in the lawsuit. On this same day, I went to the front desk at Novant Health NHRMC and asked to speak with someone in administration. I was given an administration phone number, went back to my car, and called. I was connected with someone who told me I would need to speak with the radiology manager, Nancy O’Dacre. I asked for her phone number, but they said she would call me, so I left my name and phone number. A few minutes later, Nancy called me back and we set up a meeting for later that day at 3:00 pm in the radiology department. This is key, as later on in the summer, an email was sent to Kellee Stacks and forwarded to Brandon Guthrie informing them I was not welcome at Novant sites for clinicals, as my family and I “displayed aggressive behavior” and barged into the hospital “demanding to speak with an administrator.” Screenshots of my phone call to the administrative line at Novant NHRMC and Nancy’s call back to me are included in the screenshots section of this site. There was no aggressive behavior displayed by either party at this meeting; however, Nancy alerted her coworker to call special police on my family and me when she was finished speaking with us. There was no adjournment of the meeting, she simply asked her coworker to “go ahead and call special police.”

May 16, 2023: I was scheduled to attend the hearing to appeal the sonography faculty’s decision to remove me from the program. I signed a DocuSign agreement with my name and date confirming I would be attending the hearing at 2:00 pm in Suite 343. I again brought my mom and brother along, as they had been present in Dean McGee’s meeting. 2:00 pm came and went and, after a few minutes, we were met with Brandon Guthrie, Vice President of Academic Affairs. He introduced himself and sat down. Shortly after introducing himself, he informed us he came to the scheduled room for the hearing just in case someone showed up. I questioned him why someone wouldn’t show up and he informed us that Kellee and Laura said I did not sign the DocuSign agreement confirming I would be in attendance of the hearing I requested. I was able to show Mr. Guthrie the signed document where I had signed the agreement, confirming my attendance. Fortunately, we were able to disclose a good portion of evidence to Mr. Guthrie and accurately explain the situation. He informed us that before he met with us, he thought this was just a case of a disgruntled student with a bad grade but that, when he saw this (the timeline), he said “mmm, this is different.” Mr. Guthrie immediately comprehended the depth of, and players in, this situation. He let me know he would go over everything I had relayed to him with colleagues and get back to me.

May 18, 2023: I received a call from Mr. Guthrie’s assistant letting me know he would like to set up a meeting with me the following day. We set up the meeting for 10:00 am.

May 19, 2023: At 10:00 am, I met a second time with Mr. Guthrie. During this meeting, he informed us he had met with all three sonography instructors (separately) and that, although they knew about my brother and Amber’s relationship, they were unaware of the hindrance it was causing for me in clinicals. Unfortunately, I let him know that I had, in fact, made the sonography faculty aware of potential issues for me all the way back in August and again in February. He said he would like for me to get what I need and had come up with a solution to let me back into the sonography program. I agreed, and Mr. Guthrie asked that I keep in touch with him on a regular basis regarding anything with the sonography program.  

May 22, 2023: A few days following my readmittance, the summer semester began. Due to my family’s alleged display of “aggressive behavior,” my clinical site changed from Novant Health NHRMC (where Amber works) to Onslow Memorial Hospital (OMH) in Jacksonville.

May 23, 2023: I began my first summer clinical rotation at Onslow Memorial Hospital. 

June 1, 2023: Laura Currie made a clinical site visit to OMH, where I expressed concerns over lack of scan time.

June 5, 2023: I met with Mr. Guthrie to discuss my time at OMH and expressed concerns to him as well over a lack of scan time.

June 6, 2023: I emailed Laura to again express my concerns over a lack of scan time at OMH.

June 7, 2023: I received my mid-evaluation from OMH with no alterations made by any sonography faculty.

June 22, 2023: I received my final (unaltered) evaluation from OMH. The evaluating sonographer’s comment on my evaluation was “overall, she is doing very well”

June 28, 2023: I began my second summer clinical rotation at Wilmington Maternal Fetal Medicine (WMFM)

July 13, 2023: I received my mid-evaluation from WMFM. I had an 84 inputted into the grade book, despite receiving a 95.44 originally, (and then a 91.82 after it was altered the first time) from Trajecsys. I received normal feedback for a student just beginning in obstetric sonography, but Laura Currie emailed Marianne Welch, my clinical instructor/evaluator at Wilmington Maternal Fetal Medicine to ask what grade she would give me for my evaluation after the evaluation had been submitted. Marianne replied she thought a low B/high C would be good. I was informed by Kellee that I would be placed on a plan of action after the evaluation was adjusted.

July 20, 2023: I called WMFM and informed the receptionist I would be late for the day. I called 5 times in an effort to reach someone so I would not be considered a no-show for clinicals. Finally, on my 6th attempt, I reached the receptionist, gave her my name, told her I was the sonography student, and that I would be late that morning. She told me she would let the sonographers know, and I thanked her. I went into clinicals a couple hours late that day and, following our clinical policy manual, I informed my clinical instructors of the reason for the tardy: there was a sonographer in the community who was negatively impacting my time in the program, and I had taken some time that morning because the situation was overwhelming. This is the extent of detail I went into because I didn’t want my personal life to affect my clinical experience any further. According to the CFCC Medical Sonography clinical policy manual, any student who is late is required to give the reason for their tardy, or else it could result in dismissal from the program. Additionally, I asked Marianne Welch, a sonographer at WMFM, if she had ever been asked by sonography faculty to give a number grade or letter grade outside of Trajecsys (the clinical grading system used by CFCC sonography). She said she had been asked before, and I replied with, “that’s insane.” I said this as it’s such an odd practice for clinical instructors who are with students watching them scan all day long to give a grade, and then be asked by faculty at the college who are not with the students what grade they would give them…after they’ve already given them a grade.

July 20, 2023: Carla Wolff, the lead sonographer at WMFM had a phone call with Laura Currie.

July 21, 2023: Carla was out for the day but asked one of the sonographers to have me give her a call. I did, and she told me she called Laura the night prior and told her she was worried about me. She then told me she was worried about the “mental piece of this.” Carla wasn’t even in the room when I was telling the sonographers why I was late the day prior… how could she be concerned about my mental state when I made one statement, went into no detail, and she was nowhere around?

August 1, 2023: I walked into clinicals at WMFM and heard Carla Wolff say to another sonographer, Marianne Welch, that they would need to call Kellee later to help them work through my final clinical evaluation. During clinicals that day while I was at WMFM, I overheard the aforementioned phone call with Carla, Marianne, and Kellee. During their phone call, Carla and Marianne were actively changing my evaluation with Kellee on the other line. They were only saving the evaluation for later--not submitting it--for Kellee to see their changes and ensure my grade was where both parties wanted it. During the call, Kellee went through each category and coached my clinical instructors on how to complete my final evaluation. Carla said, “we’re just trying to tease this out to see where we’re at.” Kellee said, “we might have to make an adjustment somehow…” Additionally, Carla said “she (Camryn) did ask Marianne about changing grades, and Marianne said, ‘this is what we do, this is what we’ve always done.’” Later on, Carla said, “I’m upset about how this played out, but to be fair, we had an instance of unprofessionalism (me being late the one day and telling my clinical instructors why I was late, per the policy manual) over the whole time she’s been here.” Kellee responded, “It only takes one time.” This was interesting to me that I would have points deducted from my clinical evaluation for following the clinical policy manual that the sonography faculty wrote.

August 3, 2023: Following Kellee’s phone call to Carla and Marianne where she coached them through the evaluation, I was subsequently placed on plan of action for a low clinical grade.

August 7, 2023: I sent an email to Mr. Guthrie to inform him I heard the phone call between Kellee and Carla/Marianne, and that I had an issue with being placed on a plan of action for something that wasn’t legitimate, as Kellee was coaching my instructors on how my performance with the practice would appear on my evaluation. His response back to me that he was “working to follow up on the situation” was the last I received from Mr. Guthrie, despite him telling me to keep him updated on everything.

August 18, 2023: CFCC was notified of the lawsuit, therefore allowing the sonography faculty to know I would be pursuing legal action against them.

August 18, 2023: Kellee sent an email informing me I would receive an “F” in my clinical course and be dismissed from the program if I did not sign the plan of action she caused by coaching my clinical instructors through my final evaluation from WMFM.

August 20, 2023: Begrudgingly--because I didn’t agree with the reason for the plan of action--but not wanting to be dismissed from the program, I sent back the signed plan of action.  

August 22, 2023: I asked Mandy Harrington, my clinical instructor at ED North/Scotts Hill Imaging, what time to be back for lunch. She told me, “We have a 1:30 patient, so just a little bit before then.”

August 23, 2023: I asked Tina Wood, my clinical instructor at ED North/Scotts Hill Imaging, what time to be back for lunch. She told me, “1:30.”

August 24, 2023: Amber was served the lawsuit. As she kept in contact with her former instructors and classmates, any chance of my instructors and any other defendant not knowing about the lawsuit was out the window.

August 29, 2023: I received an offer of $12,000 from Cape Fear Community College if I would not pursue legal action against the school.

August 30, 2023: My attorney sent a rejection to CFCC’s $12,000 offer, as I was adamant to all administration I came into contact with that I was not about receiving any money for this; I simply wanted to right the wrong and try to fix this broken system. In what world is it ok for instructors to lower a student’s grade?

August 30, 2023: While waiting for another patient to arrive, the manager of radiology, Joe Merrill, came into the radiology room to inform me he had gotten a message from Cape Fear saying I needed to “meet them down there at 2:00.” I said, “meet who where, and for what?” He said, “I wasn’t told what it was for, but the sonography ladies have asked me to tell you to be at Cape Fear by 2:00 for a meeting.” “Do I come back, or?” I asked him, and he told me, “I don’t know what they want, I would just ask them.” I immediately packed up my things and got in my car. Cape Fear is easily a 25-minute drive from ED North/Scotts Hill… so why was I being called out of clinicals in the middle of the clinical day? I didn’t end my clinical shift until 4:30 pm. I emailed Kellee wanting to know why I was being pulled out of clinicals early, and her response was “we need to meet with you to discuss clinical policies.” Huh? That couldn’t wait until I had a day off from clinicals? I got to CFCC and discovered the meeting was about the “long lunches” I had taken the week prior. In essence, I was pulled out of clinicals early to discuss missing clinical time.

September 5, 2023: I sent an email to Kellee, Laura, and Angela, along with Mr. Guthrie, informing them of lack of scan time. My clinical instructors at ED North/Scotts Hill Imaging told me a couple of times since the beginning of my rotation that they were surprised/confused as to why a second year was being sent to their clinical site as it was typically a site for first year students.

Laura emailed me back to say a site visit would be best to discuss lack of scan time…

September 6, 2023: …instead, Laura visited ED North/Scotts Hill Imaging and had all the clinical instructors sign “clinical instructor observation” forms for the improper plan of action on which I had been placed. On these forms, clinical instructors Tina Wood and Mandy Harrington checked boxes that called me “late/unreliable” for taking long lunches…the same long lunches they told me to take.

September 8, 2023: I received an email from Brenda Holland, the department chair, informing me that due to the (aforementioned) clinical instructor observation forms my clinical instructors had completed—at the instruction of Laura Currie just two days prior—and my mid-evaluation grade from ED North/Scotts Hill, I was being dismissed from the medical sonography program. The clinical instructors at ED North/Scotts Hill told me to take extended lunches, I followed their instruction, was reprimanded for it in the middle of a clinical day, and then was ultimately dismissed for it. Definitely not because they had been served a lawsuit by an actively enrolled student.

September 8, 2023: CFCC deleted my clinical records account where all of my clinical grades, evaluations, scans completed, and time sheets are held. Deleting all of this information would hinder me from continuing my education elsewhere, as I would have virtually no proof that I had completed nearly all of my sonography degree.

September 15, 2023: I sent Brenda Holland an email a week after being dismissed from the program and asked why I was still receiving zeroes on assignments if I was no longer enrolled in the program. She responded back that she was not sure what the sonography faculty procedures were following a student’s removal from the program but that, after the weekend, she would get back to me.

September 18, 2023: I received an email from Brenda stating I was dismissed from the program for a clinical course failure. She informed me I would receive an “F” in the course, and that I could withdraw from the other two sonography courses in which I was enrolled, and I would not receive any additional zeroes.

September 23, 2023: I informed Brenda that I would not, in fact, withdraw myself from the other two courses, as I was forced into this situation by CFCC medical sonography faculty. Brenda emailed me back and told me she would submit a request for me to be administratively withdrawn.

October 3, 2023: I was still receiving zeroes and had not been administratively withdrawn, so I emailed Brenda once again, thanking her for her immediate attention to this matter. I never heard back from her, and things progressed legally.

December 15, 2023: After dismissing me due to “failing grades,” Cape Fear Community College mailed me a letter congratulating me on making the Honors List. This requires a GPA of 3.5 or above.

January 23, 2024: CFCC filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit against their defendants at the end of October. CFCC’s attorney contacted my attorney and asked if this date would work for her schedule for the hearing to dismiss, and my attorney agreed. My case was #5 on the docket for the day and, conveniently, was pushed until the very end of the day when the entire courtroom was cleared. The judge ruled that Kellee Stacks was a public official, so she could not be sued because she had governmental immunity. The judge further ruled that CFCC cannot be sued for a FERPA violation (my dismissal being leaked by Kellee), and that they would need to be reported to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) as FERPA is an educational issue. The judge effectively ended my case without hearing any evidence. He did not afford me a fair trial; rather, he nixed the whole case to continue to cover the sins of this college.