Kelsey McHugh

Kelsey McHugh, Malcolm X College’s 2023 valedictorian, had already earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Central Washington University before starting her journey at Malcolm X.

She was working as an actor and audiovisual technician when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and upended the industry in a moment’s notice. That’s when Kelsey decided to shift careers, looking for something “worthwhile with her time.” She had always been interested in the idea of helping provide diagnostic information to patients, so she applied to the Radiography program at Malcolm X. It was a rigorous program, and Kelsey believes she needed that challenge in order to feel prepared for a new career.

“To find a two-year program that could completely change my career and really benefit me in terms of mental, financial, [and] physical health… that was really great,” she said.

Kelsey had the opportunity to work at multiple hospital clinical sites before she graduated, gaining hands-on experience in the field. At the end of 2022, she passed her boards and accepted a job at Rush University Medical Center. Kelsey plans to continue to grow in the field of diagnostic imaging by obtaining her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) license in the future.