Beaufort Memorial unveils $17.5K sponsorship to support Beaufort County high schools
BEAUFORT, S.C. – As part of Beaufort Memorial’s commitment to educating local students about career opportunities in healthcare, the hospital has invested in a district-wide high school sponsorship with the Beaufort County School District.
Beaufort Memorial is giving $17,500 to the BCSD to support school activities and increase visibility for the one of the county’s largest employers at all six public high schools in the county. In addition to the funds being split between the district’s six high schools, Beaufort Memorial will provide career planning support and resources for high school classes, clubs and events. These resources include health topic experts, career information, behind-the-scenes tours and hands-on skills training.
Beaufort Memorial Career Development Center’s high-tech manikins. Photo courtesy of Beaufort
Memorial Hospital
“As the community’s hospital, we are tasked with meeting the ever-growing needs for high-quality healthcare. Now, more than ever, that also means finding innovative ways to grow and develop the necessary staff,” said Russell Baxley, MHA, Beaufort Memorial president and CEO. “We’re excited to introduce high school students to the career opportunities in healthcare and offer training to equip them to be the next generation of caregivers.”
The hospital recently revamped its sponsorship program, focusing resources and support to strategically invest in the future of the community. Including the $17,500 sponsorship, Beaufort Memorial’s overall annual financial investment in the school district will be well over $25,000 including staff time, use of facilities and materials for both teachers and the students participating in Beaufort Memorial-sponsored programs (such as uniforms, certification exam fees, etc.).
through dual enrollment at their schools: Aysha Perez (Bluffton High School), Evelin Leija and
Alani Crawford (both Whale Branch High School) and Abigal Reynolds (Battery Creek High
School). Photo courtesy of Beaufort Memorial Hospital
“We are excited to partner with Beaufort Memorial and appreciate their dedication to broadening our students’ horizons by introducing them to many meaningful healthcare careers and providing them with opportunities that will ultimately help them thrive,” said BCSD Career & Technical Education Director Karen Gilbert. “Not only is Beaufort Memorial innovative in their approach to workforce development, but it has also given our students the opportunity to get a jump-start on their healthcare careers, ultimately strengthening the healthcare pipeline in this community.”
Beaufort Memorial and BCSD are also partnering for a dual enrollment program that kicked off in January, allowing seniors enrolled at a BCSD high school who are also participating in a health sciences completer program to participate in Beaufort Memorial’s PATH (People Achieving Their Highest) program tuition-free.
Students who complete this program in high school are certified in their pathway by the time they graduate and are ready to enter the workforce immediately. At Beaufort Memorial, graduates from this program would begin working at one to two pay grades higher than they would in an entry-level position.
Alani Crawford, a senior at Whale Branch High School, is currently participating in the Patient Care Technician (PCT) pathway in the program, allowing her to get a head start on her goal of becoming a registered nurse.
“It has been my dream to be a part of this program,” Crawford said. “It’s a really good opportunity; you can skip the entry level and get certified while you’re in high school.”
To learn more about career development opportunities for high school students, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/InvestingInYourFuture.
