May 27, 2010

Twenty-eight students from four area high schools recently completed the Health Occupations program at Paris Community Hospital.

These students were honored at a celebration ceremony May 13 in the hospital‘s Visiting Specialty Clinic. More than 100 family members and friends attended the event.

 Featured speakers for the evening included Randy Simmons, president and CEO of Paris Community Hospital, and Gary Philippi, director of the Eastern Illinois Education for Employment System. Ann Welsh, RNC-OB, BNS, Health Occupations instructor and celebration organizer, congratulated each student individually and shared an anecdoate with them.

Students who successfully completed this year's program are:

Paris High School – Jessica Archibald, Erica Dawson, Kimberly Dugger, Bre Eslinger, Brittany Garwood, Sierra Helderman, Laney Martin, Allie Piper, Kayla Scheiner, Cheyanne Ray, Jessie Smith, Shaunah Wheeler, and Tabi York.

Casey-Westfield High School – Ethan Brewer, Brandi Kemper, Ashley Massey, and Krista Sewell.

Marshall High School – Dana Chilton, Sam Chubb, Sammy Deisher, Latasha Garner, Ginny Lowe, Liz Price, Jordan Shipp, Chelsea Studer, and Courtney Vanatti.

Martinsville High School – Shanna Gross and Shelby Thompson.

About the program

Health Occupations is a training program offered at Paris Community Hospital for high school students interested in pursuing a healthcare career. The program educates students about healthcare careers, and provides them with hands-on clinical experience with actual patients. This valuable experience prepares them to take the state’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam. After completing the program, they receive high school credit toward graduation and eight hours of college credit through Lake Land College.

The program at Paris Community Hospital is part of a 26-school regional consortium sponsored by the Eastern Illinois Education for Employment System.