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Volunteer High School in Church Hill announced its fall of 2022 Nursing Education Class, certified nursing assistants.

Students are Alexis Bellamy, CNA; Aniyah Calderon, CNA; Taylor Castle, CNA; Emmerson Head, CNA; Macy Henry, CNA; Dazmine Kendrick, CNA; Madison Short, CNA; Sarah VanHuss, CNA; Sara Winegar, CNA; Addison Wright, CNA; and Emily Wyatt, CNA.

These students successfully completed the required pre-requisite courses prior to being accepted into the Nursing Education class. Those courses included Introduction to Health Science, Medical Therapeutics, and Anatomy & Physiology. While enrolled in nursing education, they completed the required training (40 lecture/content delivery hours, 20 classroom lab hours, and 40 clinical hours) to qualify them to sit for their State of Tennessee Certified Nursing Assistant licensure exam which includes both a knowledge and skills portion.

While becoming a CNA is a foundational steppingstone to becoming a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse, it can also be a valuable start to a variety of careers in the healthcare industry. All 11 students have plans to further their education after graduation.

This was the first Nursing Education class to take their CNA test in the comforts of their own classroom since Volunteer High School became an official test site in August, 2022.

This recognition would not have been possible without the funding from the Supporting Postsecondary Access in Rural Communities grant. This grant allowed for the purchase of medical and training equipment required to become a test site.

Alexis Bellamy, CNA, has been accepted to Carson-Newman University and Walters State Community College, although she is undecided where she will attend at this time. Alexis plans to major in kinesiology and chiropractics. She plans to work as a CNA while attending college.

Aniyah Calderon, CNA, will be attending South College in the summer of 2023 where she will major in nursing. Aniyah plans to work as a CNA while attending college.

Taylor Castle, CNA, will be attending Lincoln Memorial University in the fall of 2023 where she will major in nursing, while also running track. Taylor has accepted a position at Holston Valley Medical Center as a CNA in the ICU.

Emmerson Head, CNA, will be attending Montreat College in the fall of 2023 where she will major in exercise science, while also playing basketball. Emmerson is seeking employment at Holston Medical Group as a CNA.

Macy Henry, CNA, will be attending East Tennessee State University in the fall of 2023 where she will major in Nursing. Macy plans to work as a CNA at Holston Valley Medical Center while attending college.

Dazmine Kendrick, CNA, has been accepted to ETSU and Austin Peay State University, although she is undecided where she will attend at this time. Dazmine plans to major in nursing, while also working as a CNA.

Madison Short, CNA, has been accepted to ETSU and LMU, although she is undecided where he will attend at this time. Madison plans to major in pre-professional dentistry or nursing, while also working as a CNA.

Sarah VanHuss, CNA, has been accepted to ETSU, Tennessee Technological University, and Carson-Newman University, although she is undecided where she will attend at this time. She plans to major in nursing, while also working as a CNA.

Sara Winegar, CNA, will be attending LMU in the fall of 2023 where she will major in pre-med biochemistry, while also running track. She is currently seeking employment as a CNA in pediatrics.

Addison Wright, CNA, will be attending ETSU in the fall of 2023 where she will major in Health Sciences on the pre-physician assistant track. She plans to work as a CNA while attending college.

Emily Wyatt, CNA, will be attending Johnson University in the fall of 2023 where she will major in pre-med, while also playing softball. She is currently seeking employment as a CNA.

“This has been an excellent group of students to work with. I have no doubt that all of them will meet, and most likely exceed, the future goals that they have set for themselves,” Keri Masters, RN, VHS nursing education instructor said. “It is exciting for me as their instructor to witness their hard work and dedication pay off. They deserve to be celebrated and should be proud of themselves.”

The Nursing Education students thanked their parents, teachers, friends and Hawkins County Schools for this opportunity and their support as they took their first step into the world of healthcare.

The class gave a special thanks to Masters, as she put in a great deal of time and effort to encourage the students to keep their heads up and keep moving forward.

This class is one that requires much dedication and courage to get through; however, Masters always found a way to make the class enjoyable.