BCCC celebrates successes of students, teachers

The Barnwell County Career Center (BCCC) recently celebrated the successes of its students and teachers in reaching their career goals.

Sixteen students received their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certifications after completing the health and science program at BCCC.

Caroline Arbogast, Reid Barker, Nyavia Bennett, A'Shuna Brown, Callee Chesser, Sahra Ditto-Williams, Briana Donaldson, Adrianna Houston, Valerie Hutto, Avery Keele, Zakiera Matthews, Zi'yer Rice, Kaitlyn Simmons, Zaria Simmons, Jamie Stein, and Janiya Washington have all taken one step further in the healthcare field.

This three-year program requires a minimum of 100 hours in the classroom, at skills labs, and working in a clinical setting. Since COVID, the clinical hours were obtained in the skills lab.

Before preparing for the examination, health and science students spend two years studying healthcare and medical terminology with a focus on anatomy and physiology.

“Many of our students who obtain their CNA at BCCC go on to work in local nursing homes while still in high school to gain the experience and help save money for college,” said Dawn Wilbanks, BCCC health and science instructor. “Having the CNA certification and the other four certifications offered through the health science program here at the career center increases our students’ chances of being accepted into the highly competitive college healthcare programs as well as making them immediately marketable for the workforce even before their high school graduation.”

“My hope for these young ladies is that this is the entry way into their future goals in the healthcare workforce and that we have in some way guided them to their desired field of choice,” said BCCC health and science instructor Debbie Dicks.

“It is truly a blessing to train and work with these young ladies as we see them take the theory and apply it to real-life scenarios and enter the workforce or postsecondary school of their choice. We share our ‘war’ stories and experiences with them which lets them know that we have been where they are and where they can be,” said Dicks.

“Watching them grow both academically and personally from the sophomore year to the senior year is very fulfilling,” said Wilbanks. “They come in as young sophomores not really understanding what all is entailed in being a health care worker and leave with the skills to directly assist in the care and safety of other human beings. For these young students to determine and follow through with a desire to serve others selflessly is such a privilege to be a part of.”

Poetry contest winners

Aside from successes in the health care field, one teacher and one student from BCCC were recognized on the state level for their entries in the National Career Development Poetry Contest sponsored by the National Career Development Association.

“The theme of the contest was to be based on career and technology education. So, the challenge was to write a poem that would provoke thought about what we teach but also be entertaining for the reader,” said Mark Epperson, BCCC auto technology teacher and contest winner.

Epperson came in first place in the adult category for his original poem, “Perhaps I’ll Build a Road.” Epperson has written dozens of poems, and was excited to partake in this contest.

“I was delighted to win the contest and even more excited that one of our students won her division as well,” said Epperson.

Barnwell High School senior and BCCC Health and Science program student, Reid Barker won first place in the ninth through twelfth grade category for an original poem.

“I originally entered this contest to gain extra credit for my health science class at the career center, but quickly realized how fulfilling it was to write about something I am passionate about. For the Career Development Poetry Contest, I wanted to highlight a career I feel is greatly unappreciated and deserves more recognition, which happened to be the field of nursing. I could not be happier to represent my program and the career center statewide. I owe great thanks to the support I received from my amazing teachers and the staff at BCCC!” said Barker.

Students of the Month

Students in each program at BCCC have the opportunity to be named student of the month for demonstrating leadership and showing potential in their programs.

All of these students are in their first semester of their respective programs, and have been named student of the month for being a leader and making progress.

In the agriculture program in Mindy Sandifer’s class, Callie Bozard, Fate Wall, and Alaina Brant were named students of the month. In Christle Tindall’s agriculture class, Audrey Sanders, Alaila Boyce, and Noah Smith were recognized.

In automotive technology, MaHayley Hurst, Alayna Mitchell, and Rashadd Jackson were named students of the month.

Building construction students Hayden Duty, Jemauri Cave, and John Thompson built their way upward to becoming students of the month.

De'Aysia Britton, Stephanie Tepole, and Traveonna McCreary were named students of the month in the cosmetology program.

In the criminal justice program, JaKyia Mack, Sidney Mason and Andrew Still were all named students of the month.

Jalen Brown, Matthew Moore, and James Gonzalez were named the cyber security program’s students of the month.

Jondalyn Dunbar, Chelsea Walker, and Shanese Samuels were named students of the month in Dick’s health and science class. In Wilbanks’ class, Isabelle Ayer, Briana Robinson, and Barker were all named students of the month.

In the marketing program, Isha Patel, Dennis Gibson, and Gabriel Hosey were recognized as students of the month.

In mechanical design, Kinsey Lewis, Markasia Reed, and Rasan Houston all jumped into leadership positions earning them the title of students of the month.

In mechatronics, Avery Trottie and Cesar Villalobos were the students of the month, and in welding, Jabarius Johnson, Stevie Jones, and John Thompson took home the medal for students of the month.

The Cycle of Nursing

By Reid Barker

Barnwell High School senior and

BCCC Health and Science program student

From the first time you put on a baggy pair of scrubs to "play pretend" on your stuffed animals

That's when love grew.

A love for always asking questions

A love to take care of others

A love for helping others in need

That love transforms into ambition.

An ambition to take rigorous classes

An ambition that drives you to apply to competitive programs

An ambition that is the key component that gets you an acceptance letter

Then comes determination.

Determination that pushes you through grueling hours of studying

Determination that allows you to persevere through 6AM clinicals

Determination that will earn you a degree

Passion follows determination.

Passion which tells you to never give up on a patient

Passion is what motivates you to always do better

Passion is what you need to to get through what seems like a never-ending shift

Along comes dedication.

Dedication is what allows you to leave all the hardships of your day at the front door

Dedication to a profession in which sickness and death will surround you

Dedication is what keeps you going

Nevertheless, problems will persist...

Complications will arise,

Obstacles will stand in the way of success,

And doubt will rear its ugly head.

It takes grace to overcome.

Grace to lift yourself up, when fearful

Grace to admit when you make mistakes

Grace which follows you as you walk the floors of a hospital and

To the time where you put back on those scrubs from earlier that suddenly fit and get ready to save a life.

Perhaps I’ll Build a Road

by Mark Epperson

Automotive Technology Teacher

Barnwell County Career Center

Perhaps I’ll build a house,

To keep me safe and warm.

A home for my family,

When life throws us a storm.

Perhaps grow a garden,

To feed my family and friends.

And store up for the winter,

As the growing season ends.

Perhaps I’ll save a life,

With the lessons I have learned.

To save someone in need,

With the skills that I have earned.

Perhaps I’ll build a road,

To somewhere I’ve never been.

And maybe build another,

To bring me home again.