Category: Press Releases

Healthcare Career Pathway Program Launches with 26 Students

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership Hosts Second Year of Twin County Healthcare Excellence

January 22nd, 2025

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership’s healthcare career pathway program for high school students launched on Friday, January 17^th. The program, Twin County Healthcare Excellence, is in its second year. Competition for TCHE’s limited number of slots—just 26 across three high schools—is fierce, but for students accepted into the program, advantages are numerous. Sophomores from Grayson, Carroll, and Galax high schools will spend the next several Fridays exploring various aspects of a career in health care.

Each week, students will tour one or more healthcare facilities, receive hands-on training, and obtain career-building supplies. They will learn about careers across a wide array of healthcare disciplines, including nursing, eye care, physical therapy, substance use treatment, elder care, emergency services, and much more. The program spans eight weeks of the spring semester, culminating with a graduation and white coat ceremony in March.

The program kicked off at the Crossroads Institute in Galax, where students toured the state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Lab. They also received training on infection prevention, including proper handwashing technique and fitting for N95 face masks.

“One of the biggest benefits of this program is that it allows students to find what does and doesn’t appeal to them fairly early in their career path,” shares Rebecca Fisher, Director of Talent Solutions and Business Engagement for Mount Rogers Regional Partnership. Ms. Fisher spearheads the Twin County Healthcare Excellence program. “That gives them time to course-correct or really hone in on their area of interest before they even graduate high school,” Ms. Fisher continues.

Twin County Healthcare Excellence is a program of Mount Rogers Regional Partnership’s Talent Solutions division and would not be possible without the support of partners, including Wytheville Community College and the Twin County Chamber of Commerce; the public school systems of Carroll County, Grayson County, and City of Galax; and the participation of regional healthcare businesses. Participating providers and locations include Atrium AirCare, Blue Ridge Eye Care, Carroll County EMS, Commonwealth Senior Living, Comprehensive Treatment Centers, Galax/Grayson EMS, Healthcare Academy, Heritage Hall – Laurel Meadows, Mount Rogers Community Services, PT Solutions, Saber Healthcare Group – Wadell, Senior Homeshare, Tri Area Community Health – Fries, and Twin County Regional Hospital.

To learn more about the program, including how your healthcare business can participate in future cohorts, visit the Mount Rogers Regional Partnership website at www.mountrogersregion.com/programs or contact Rebecca Fisher at rfisher@wcc.vccs.edu.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Morgan Herbert
Director of Marketing and Communications
Mount Rogers Regional Partnership
mherbert@wcc.vccs.edu
276-223-4858
mountrogersregion.com

MRRP’s Twin County Manufacturing Excellence Graduates 23 Students

Second Year of Talent Pipeline Program a Success

December 17th, 2024

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership congratulates the 23 students who graduated from the Twin County Manufacturing Excellence program on Friday, December 13^th, 2024. Participants were seniors from Carroll County High School, City of Galax High School, and Grayson County High School who had completed seven weeks of hands-on learning, earning key industry certifications along the way.

These students will have a head start on a career in manufacturing, having toured facilities and participated in workshops and professional development courses alongside receiving certifications in disciplines such as precision measurement and safety.

Speakers at the graduation ceremony, held at the Crossroads Institute in Galax, included Rebecca Fisher and Morgan Herbert of MRRP, Jay Holderfield of Carroll County Public Schools, Roland Hall of Wytheville Community College, Jake Leonard of Real Performance Machinery, and Mike Watson, Carroll County Administrator. Additionally, a student representative from each school spoke about what the program meant to them: Preston Iroler of CCHS, Ean Fernandez of Galax, and Noah Armstrong of GCHS.

“This is such an excellent opportunity for you,” shared Jay Holderfield, Assistant Principal and CTE Coordinator for Carroll County High School, as he addressed the graduating students. “Opportunities like this didn’t exist when I was in high school, and this has been an incredible chance for you to see if a career in manufacturing is the right path for you.”

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership would like to thank our sponsors, partners, and supporting businesses that made Twin County Manufacturing Excellence possible: Twin County Chamber of Commerce, Wytheville Community College, Carroll County Public Schools, Galax City Public Schools, Grayson County Public Schools, Albany, Mohawk Industries, MOOG, RPM, Turman Hardwood Flooring, and Thomas Automation Management.

Please join us in congratulating these hardworking students and wishing them the very best in their future careers!

Employers in the region who are interested in learning more about the Manufacturing Excellence program should contact Rebecca Fisher, Interim Deputy Director and Director of Talent Solutions and Business Engagement, at rfisher@wcc.vccs.edu or by calling (276) 223-4709.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Morgan Herbert

Marketing & Communications Manager

mherbert@wcc.vccs.edu

276-223-4858

mountrogersregion.com