The Healthcare Academy at Atherton provides many opportunities for students pursuing a field in medicine, patient care, or biomedical. One student in particular fell in love with the academy and the lessons that followed, which led to an amazing opportunity. Jagger Williams (12) is the first student at Atherton to be accepted into the Knights to Nurses Dual Enrollment Program at Bellarmine University.
“Coming to Atherton really solidified my desire for healthcare,” Jagger said.
The Knights to Nurses program partners with Bellarmine and Norton healthcare provides fast-track learning for the next generation of medical professionals. Luckily for Williams, his classes from the healthcare academy have already provided him with multiple certifications such as Basic Life Support (BLS) and Stop the Bleed, which he earned from his job as a lifeguard. Instead of taking coursework at Atherton his senior year, Jagger will take classes at Bellarmine Monday-Thursday, and visit Atherton Fridays if he chooses. In the summer, Williams will take a program called “Summer Bridge” to ease the transition from high school to college. Since college can be pricey, Jagger is applying for the Norton-Career Ready Program, which is a scholarship granted up to $45,000. The scholarship will cover his Dual-Enrollment for his senior year, as well as any additional funding for his degree at Bellarmine. After graduation, Williams will complete a five-year work obligation with Norton.
Jagger always knew he wanted to help people, something he learned from his mother. Williams remembers sitting outside of his mother’s hospital classrooms, seeing hands-on learning from an early age. His passion for service has now led him to Atherton, achieving the same learning his mother did. Today his mother works at the VA Clinic on Dixie Highway as a wound care nurse.
“I saw how much of an impact my mom made, and I just wanted to follow in her footsteps.” Jagger said.
After Jagger completes his nursing degree at Bellarmine, he plans to spend a year in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). After more experience, Williams will follow his dream to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Being Atherton’s first student to have this opportunity, Williams leads a future of Ravens achieving high goals in our academies.
