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AUGUSTA — Five students graduated June 12 as certified nursing assistants from Togus VA Healthcare Systems.
Earning certificates were Savannah Vinton-Mullens, Haylie Witham, Brittany Turner, Pamela Metten, and Tara-Lynn Hanes.
The graduation event celebrated the completion of the collaborative partnerships among Augusta Adult and Community Education, Western Maine Community Action, Lewiston CareerCenter and Togus VA Healtcare Systems.
Michael Emery, Augusta Adult & Community Education interim director, welcomed administrators, staff, residents, family, friends, teachers and community partners to the pinning ceremony and presentation of certificates. Commencement remarks were shared by Tracye Davis, Togus Medical Center director; Amy Gartley, associate director of patient and nursing Services; Rebecca Corcoran, WorkReady instructor; Monica Millhime, WMCA regional employer assistant point; and Isabelle Markley CNA instructor.
Hanes, Metten and Turner were presented highest grade awards. Student speaker Hanes thanked the workforce partners for their collaboration for this “once in a lifetime opportunity for training and an upward mobile career path.”
The course, valued at over $2,600 per participant, was at no cost for income-eligible candidates, with funding provided by WMCA.
Those graduating completed 110 hours of classroom and lab and 90 hours of clinicals; and 30 hours of academic and employability skills training. The combined curriculum empowers students with the skills and knowledge essential to the specific job field.
“The CNA training cohort is a reflection of what true partnership means,” said Patti Saarinen, WIOA program coordinator, WMCA – Central/Western Maine CareerCenters. “Business, education, state and federal training providers, and community partners working together allows for innovative approaches to workforce development. We are proud that our design model meets both employer and job seeker needs while still being efficient in terms of cost and time. We have entered a new phase for job training and this project is proof that it works.”
For more information on work-driven/educational partnerships call 207-753-9032 or visit www.facebook.com/WesternMaineCommunityAction or wmca.org.
PHOTO: Workforce Development Training partners congratulate certified nursing assistant graduates during a pinning ceremony at the Togus VA Healthcare Systems campus in Augusta. Front row, from left, CNA graduates Savannah Vinton-Mullens, Haylie Witham, Brittany Turner, Pamela Metten and Tara-Lynn Hanes. Standing, Monica Millhime, Tracye Davis, Isabelle Markley, Tiffiny Rooney, Myles Robert, Rebecca Corcoran and Michael Emery. (Helen Emery photo)
