'The future is here, now': Fort Defiance, Blue Ridge launch workforce education pilot program
FORT DEFIANCE — Daniel Worrell wants to pursue a career in emergency medical services when he graduates from Fort Defiance High School. The senior already serves with the Verona Volunteer Fire Department.
"It's very nice to be able to work in the community in which you live and serve," said Worrell, who said the experience with the fire department helped shape his career path.
Then he saw an item in the school newsletter about a joint program between Fort Defiance and Blue Ridge Community College. He asked more questions about the program and how it might help him with his interest in EMS and healthcare.
After talking with Sheba Lane, the high school's career coach, Worrell applied for the phlebotomy program at BRCC and was accepted. He joined four other Fort Defiance students this semester in the pilot program aimed at preparing high school seniors to quickly become members of the skilled workforce in a variety of high demand jobs.
"Phlebotomy technician is helping me take a step into that healthcare world," Worrell said. "Whether it be taking a phlebotomy technician certification and work as that or using it as a stepping stone toward a paramedic certification or registered nurse or anything of the like. It's definitely a great starting point."
A pair of grants is helping cover most of the cost of the program for the students. The FastForward program is available to all Virginians, paying two-thirds of the cost of the community college's workforce credential program. Lane then worked with BRCC's educational foundation to hep cover most of the other third for Fort students through a strategic innovation grant. Students do pay $150 as an investment to show their commitment.
Kevin Ratliff, the dean of BRCC's Workforce and Continuing Education program, said Fort is the first high school to pursue grants through BRCC's educational foundation to pay for that other third.
Once the course has started, Lane said students may choose to spend up to $100 for clothing or equipment necessary for the course or the career and that money is refunded through the strategic innovation grant.
"Financing these opportunities was a hurdle and these Blue Ridge people got us beyond the hurdle," Lane said. "That's why our students are able to do this."
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Most of the Blue Ridge Workforce & Continuing Education courses can be completed in three months or less, using a variety of scheduling formats including evening courses and short-term intensives. Available courses include information technology, precision machining, logistics, heavy equipment operation, CDL (A&B), medical coding, phlebotomy, EKG, and four other healthcare credentialing electives. Lane said that other requests are being considered based on student interest in options available at BRCC.
As of this week, 11 students have already enrolled in the program for next semester which begins after the first of the year. At least three others are in the process of enrolling and Lane expects that number to increase.
"Because the workforce courses last weeks instead of an entire semester, some students will likely still be completing paperwork and coming on board throughout January," Lane said.
Students don't earn academic credit for the course, but instead qualify to test for workforce certifications of licenses, per Lane.
Fort senior Corbin Durham took part in the precision machining program. He took the first of five credential programs available.
"I've always been really interested in math so I always thought I could probably work with numbers," Durham said. "Before the class it was kind of like a blank canvas I had in front of me. I was, like, I don't really know what I want to do. I know I'm pretty decent with numbers."
Durham is pursuing an apprenticeship with Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, but he also may take more precision machining classes through BRCC to get those other credentials. This program gave him options for his future. He encourages others to consider the program.
"It was definitely worth it," he said. "You aren't going to learn if you're good at it until you try it."
Most students know that Blue Ridge is an option after school and, especially for most of those at Fort, is not far away in Weyers Cave.
"But the difference between after graduation and during your senior year is significant," Sheeba Lane said. "We want to be that house of support here for them. We've been able to work with the students, giving them study time or helping them with whatever they need to balance all of this."
The courses were previously restricted to those who already had a high school diploma, but the pilot program helps speed the process by allowing high school seniors access now.
"We felt this was a way we could get our students ready for the workforce in some of the more in-demand jobs, while also making sure it was affordable and accessible for our high school students, " said Lindsay Walsh, Fort's education for employment teacher.
Brianna Lane took the phlebotomy course. There are other nurses in her family and it's always been an interest for the high school student.
"I look at it like I'm going to be able to help somebody," she said. "And I can feel good about that. That's kind of where it started."
The Fort senior took evening classes at BRCC that ran from 5 to 9 p.m. She began the first week of October and the class ran through the first part of December.
"It really opened my eyes for my future," she said. "Like, the future is here, now."
— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Fort Defiance, Blue Ridge launch workforce education pilot program
