Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
South Texas College and Region One Education Service Center have launched “Project Systemms,” a new initiative giving high school students the chance to experience a day in the life of a college student at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health (NAH) Campus.
This program offers nearly 200 sophomore students a unique opportunity for career exploration and college readiness, helping them understand the rigorous requirements and diverse career paths available in the medical field as they prepare for the transition to higher education.
“We know these are high-demand careers with rigorous requirements, so we wanted to help our students prepare early by focusing on their grade-point average (GPA) and exploring their options in the medical field,” said Beatrize Valenzuela, STEM & CTE specialist for Gear Up: Pathways to the Future at Region One. “Our students are aware of the need for more medical professionals, but most don’t realize the wide variety of opportunities available to them right here at STC.”
Recently, 60 students from Donna High School, Valley View Early College, Sharyland Pioneer and Lyford High School visited STC in the first of three scheduled sessions, giving them the opportunity to interact with faculty, staff and students.
“We gave these students a comprehensive look at everything STC has to offer, from the admissions process and financial aid to support services such as tutoring,” said NAH Initiatives Manager Judy Martinez. “Partnering with Region One on this project is a game-changer. It opens students’ eyes to career paths they might never have considered and helps them get ready early enough to start building their future.”
Students received insights into programs such as Emergency Medical Services, Pharmacy Technology and Patient Care Technician, while also learning how to take vital signs, perform CPR and use STC’s advanced virtual reality equipment.
“Our students loved the hands-on activities and had so much fun talking to college students,” said Nelda Rebollar, Health Science teacher at Donna High School. “The experience was eye-opening, showing them not only what’s possible but also how engaging and interactive these programs are.”
For Nydia Villegas, one of her students whose dream is to become a registered nurse, this was the perfect opportunity to start on the path to her goal by learning about everything required to be accepted into STC’s Associate Degree in Nursing program.
“We got to tour STC’s clinical simulation hospital, and it’s so realistic. It’s completely different to actually see how students practice and learn every day,” she said. “This experience made me even more certain that I want to be a nurse. It gives you a glimpse of what the real world will be like, helping you set your mind on what to expect.”
Over the next few months, eight more schools will have the opportunity to experience this event firsthand and interact with college students who will share their experiences and provide a clearer picture of what their future could look like.
“We serve about 5,000 students and start career exploration as early as seventh grade,” added Valenzuela. “This year, we focused on medical careers because we want to prepare students early enough that, if they need to work on their GPA or take certain classes, they have the time to do so. We’re so excited to partner with STC on this project and look forward to continuing it in the future.”
For more information on STC’s Nursing and Allied Health careers visit nah.southtexascollege.edu/.
