Success Stories

Kimon Campbell - Nurse

A Career of Caring

High school nursing studies gave Kimon Campbell more than knowledge—they gave him confidence. “One of the major fears a new nurse has is that first interaction with people on the job,” says Kimon. “I didn’t have that fear, because I was already used to being around doctors and patients.”

His junior-year Intro to Health Occupations class and his senior-year nursing practicals had given Kimon firsthand exposure to actual healthcare environments. That program also gives students a real advantage when they enter college, says Kimon. “It gives you extra confidence that makes your first year go much easier. It’s really a GPA-booster in college!”

Kimon worked as an LPN at MCV Hospital while completing the RN program at VCU.

Sara McGuire - Dental Hygienist

An Ounce of Prevention

Dental hygienists like Sara McGuire help patients avoid major dental problems through education and preventive-care procedures.

“During my last two years of high school, I took the dental career program, which teaches you how to be a dental assistant,” recalls Sara. “Those classes got me interested in dentistry. I never would have gone into it without that experience. By the time you finish your senior year, you can get a job as a dental assistant.”

Sara worked several years after high school as a dental assistant, and earned a two-year degree to reach her goal of becoming a dental hygienist. “Dental hygiene is more of what I was looking for,” she says. “It’s more one-on-one with patients.”

Tamara Foster - Nurse

Hard Work and Determination Made this Student an LPN at 18

In her senior year of high school, Tamara Foster started an 18-month LPN program through the Prince William County School of Practical Nursing.

However, the classes were conducted at Osborne High School, some distance from her home—which meant that Tamara had to be transported there (along with four other students) before classes began at 7 a.m.

So by five o’clock in the morning (a time when most high schoolers would find it difficult to even be awake), Tamara was already on her way to school every day of her senior year.

“During that first year,” says Tamara, “my classes ended at 11, and then I went back to my high school and did academic classes.” She finished the program after graduating from high school, and the hard work paid off: she became a Licensed Practical Nurse at the age of 18.

That achievement was actually the first step of Tamara’s career plan. “My whole intention in doing the LPN program was to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I just wanted to start early so I could work while I was in college and have a decent income.”

She moved on into the LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing “bridge” program at George Mason University—and true to her plan, she was able to work as an LPN while she was in college.

Now, from her vantage point as a college graduate, she gives high marks to her earlier studies in the LPN program: “It was a good opportunity…it really prepared me well.”

Dominique Harrington - Dental Assistant

From Intern to Employee

Dominique Harrington says that she has long been interested in teeth—so taking the Dental Careers CTE program during her junior and senior years of high school was a natural for her.

The program also led to her current employment.

“During the program, we did internships, “ explains Dominique, “and one of them was here [at her present place of work]…. I went to work right after my senior year in high school.”

Dominique is continuing her studies in the General Studies program at Central Virginia Community College, and has applied to the dental program at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke.

“I’m glad that EC Glass had the program,” she says. “It’s a lot of help; it prepares you for the job. It really helps you know the terminology, and know what fields you might like to go into.”

Brittany Buchanan - Nursing Student

A Clear Path to a Nursing Career

“I’ve always been interested in medicine,” says Brittany Buchanan. “For two years in high school, I was a candy striper at Martinsville Memorial Hospital.”

Her interests in healthcare led her to choose Nutrition & Wellness, a Family & Consumer Sciences course, CTE studies at Magna Vista High School. “I also did a job shadow with a PA [physician’s assistant] in a private practice. I went around with the PA with all of her patients and observed her procedures and patient assessments. After that job shadowing, I applied to UVA nursing school.”

In the midst of her nursing studies at UVA, Brittany had a unique opportunity to apply her medical skills on a trip to South Africa with the international organization Nursing Students Without Borders, helping in villages and daycare centers.

After her college studies, she’s looking forward to the choices offered by her career. “There are so many opportunities in nursing. I could do pediatrics or cancer… I could work in a hospital, in a school, or even in a factory. There’s just a lot of flexibility in nursing.”

Beth Bruner - Firefighter/Paramedic

A Life’s Work Saving Lives

When Beth Bruner noticed an EMT class was available at New Horizons, she says “I decided to try it for a year to see if I’d like to pursue it after school. It was phenomenal.... We learned about patient evaluation, medical and trauma stabilization, and emergency transportation to the hospital.” Most importantly, she earned an EMT-B certification card through the course. Beth then went to Tidewater Community College to pursue Paramedic studies. Because of her New Horizons studies, she was able to enter the program at a higher level. “It was an advantage that I already had it [EMT-B]; it expedited my career. I went all the way from Basic to Paramedic in my studies at TCC, and I was hired within a month of receiving national registry.”