Torelli’s path to the lab recognized with Christa A. Lynch MLT Scholarship
Cat Torelli, a recent Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) graduate, was the 2025-2026 recipient of the Christa A. Lynch MLT Scholarship. Working as a vet technician for several years, Torelli became fascinated with the analytical side of sample collection and testing; she explored that world at Southeastern Community College. Starting her journey at SCC in phlebotomy, Torelli earned her certificate in 2023 and transitioned into the MLT program soon after.
“While at Southeastern, I’ve learned that everything is not handed to you, and you have to work for it,” Torelli said. “Anybody coming into this MLT program has to know that because it is not easy, and you have to apply yourself. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to do that.”
Torelli said that going through the phlebotomy program first gave her an advantage in the MLT program. Because the programs are similar, and the job fields are reliant on each other, Torelli gained more hands-on experience and knowledge about sample collection and testing.
During her journey through the MLT program, Torelli viewed her classmates and fellow graduates as family members. In a class of nine students, she felt the close-knit bond they cultivated over the past two years. In her last semester, Torelli completed clinical hours, and that is when the Christa A. Lynch MLT Scholarship was most needed for her.
“I am grateful that I did not have to worry about my bills or how I’m going to make it day-to-day because I was able to focus on school,” Torelli said. “This scholarship made it so I could focus, apply myself and give it my all in class and clinicals. I did clinicals in Wilmington, Lumberton, Shallotte and Little River, so there was a lot of traveling.”
Once Torelli establishes her career with time and experience, she hopes to create a similar scholarship opportunity for future MLT students at SCC. She wants to shed more light on the MLT program at SCC and make it a top choice for students applying to the college. Torelli hopes to educate more people about MLT careers and what a medical lab technician does for the healthcare industry.
“Doctors and nurses couldn’t do what they do if it wasn’t for the techs in the lab providing the test results,” she said.
With her associates degree earned at SCC and having passed her national board exam, Torelli is now working at UNC Health Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton. She plans to earn her bachelor’s degree as a medical laboratory scientist (MLS), and she wants to enter the education field to teach MLT or manage her own animal lab. Torelli is a 2016 graduate of Whiteville High School, and she worked at Brunswick Animal Hospital for seven years.
Outside of work and school, Torelli enjoys horseback riding and reading books. She resides in Bladenboro.
Lynch’s contribution
Christa Lynch established her scholarship for Medical Laboratory Technology students at SCC after graduating from the program in 2019. She awarded the scholarship for the first time in spring 2020, focusing on supporting students during the clinical phase of the program. Lynch said she created the award because there was not a scholarship designated specifically for MLT students at the time.
“I received the Batton Scholarship while at SCC and wanted to be able to give back to others,” she said.
The scholarship provided $1,100, which covered the cost of in-state tuition for the 13 credit hours required during the clinical semester. Lynch explained that the award aimed to remove a financial barrier at a critical point in the program. She said the clinical semester represented a demanding and important stage for students preparing to enter the workforce. The scholarship helped ensure students could focus on completing their training.
Lynch said her experience in the MLT program at SCC played a key role in her decision to give back. She explained that the program was rigorous and provided a strong foundation, adding that the skills and information she learned at SCC were used daily.
“My favorite part of the MLT program at Southeastern is the quality of the instruction and course materials,” she said.
After graduating from SCC in spring 2019, Lynch began her bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science at Winston-Salem State University while completing her final semester at SCC. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in spring 2020 and later earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration in spring 2024, also from Winston-Salem State University. Lynch continued her professional career at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.
Interested in the MLT program at SCC? Contact Dawn Williamson at 910-788-6377 or [email protected] for more information. She is accepting applications until Aug. 12. Click here to apply!
The MLT program at SCC is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720, Rosemont IL 60018-5119.
