Akron Collaboration Earns National Award

A partnership to prepare students for four-year nursing degrees has earned national recognition for program excellence. The Akron Area College Tech Prep Consortium and its Advancement to Nursing partners recently received one of three 2006 Exemplary Work Site Learning Awards from the National Tech Prep Network (NTPN).

Launched in 2004, College Tech Prep Advancement to Nursing prepares high school students to enter a four-year, BS degree nursing program. Consortium partners include Barberton Citizens Hospital, The University of Akron College of Nursing, Four Cities Educational Compact, and Barberton City Schools.
Students from Barberton, Copley-Fairlawn, Norton and Wadsworth high schools begin the two-year program as juniors, attending classes at Barberton High School, Barberton Citizens Hospital and The University of Akron

Program success can be credited to partnerships, according to Kelly Herold, consortium director. "The program has seen tremendous growth and success in a very short period of time, “she says. “Partner dedication and increased program awareness have generated more community and employer involvement. All are excited to provide students with training, awareness, hands-on experiences and scholarship opportunities."

Nine of the first 10 program graduates are pursuing nursing degrees — six at The University of Akron, one at Capital University, one at Walsh University and one at Stark State College. One student is employed by Barberton Citizens Hospital as a certified State Tested Nurses Assistant.

The Caterpillar Inc.-sponsored Exemplary Worksite Learning Award was established in 1994 by the Center for Occupation Research and Development and NTPN to encourage Tech Prep/School-to-Career initiatives to integrate meaningful worksite opportunities into their curricula and to showcase the best of these programs.