Five Virginia Health Services apprentice program students graduated from Care Assistants to Nurse Aides during a ceremony Friday, February 14, 2025, at the EEE Center in Port Warwick.
The six-week earn-as-you-learn program includes classwork, clinical skills labs and on-the-floor experience, which the class completed at the EEE and James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The program also covers the cost of the state certification exam to be a CNA.
The graduates — Shanicia Carter, Jonathan Ferris, Elizabeth McLemore, JaMya Sanford and Kirsten White — continue on as VHS team members at Coliseum, The Newport and York Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers.
The students were led by Director of Education Princess Henderson, RN, BSN; instructor Nora Gillespie, RN; and Nursing Training and Education Coordinator Terry Williamson, LPN. They were joined Friday by a full house of friends and family to cheer on their accomplishments.
While weather and illness took a toll throughout the course, the students got to the finish line, Terry said. “I really applaud them today and am proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
The graduates
Terry shared that Shanicia Carter was a quiet student, but was engaged and would fight for her residents.
JaMya Sanford, who earned the Clinical Superlative Award, has compassion and all the tools to be a CNA, Nora said. Terry credited JaMya with being independent, flexible and able to adjust in any circumstance. She was an advocate for her residents and rose to the occasion on the floor.
Kirsten White has a “sense of humor that lights up a room,” Terry said. She was committed to making sure her residents looked good every day.
Salutatorian Elizabeth McLemore built confidence throughout the course of the class, Terry said. She shined in the program, though she came in without experience in healthcare, and looks forward to going to nursing school.
Valedictorian
While it was close to the end, Terry said, Jonathan Ferris pulled away from Elizabeth as valedictorian.
“They sat next to each other,” Terry said. “They were a team.”
Terry and Nora talked about how Jonathan was an advocate for his residents and helped them get needed care. Jonathan was a Care Assistant prior to joining the formal training program in January.
“He was a joy to have in class,” Terry said. “He would jump in anywhere and take the initiative to do anything.”
Jonathan thanked the instructors before going into the rest of his valedictory remarks to his classmates.
“We did it. … We listened to our instructors to this point and trusted their judgement; and they told us we have the heart and what it takes to be a good CNA,” he said. “You all have seen in clinicals and everything else, you are all good CNAs already. Don’t let this stop here, don’t let this be where the story ends. … This is only the beginning.”
Closing remarks
VHS Vice President of Nursing Rebecca Boyd offered closing remarks to the graduates.
“This is a competitive program with a lot of applicants,” she said. “We’ve got a good group here. We look for empathy, heart and compassion — you need those to be a good CNA. It’s a tough job and you have to do it well. You give a lot of yourself and you get a lot, too.”
She complimented the education team for making the apprenticeship the premiere CNA training program in the area.
“Be a Princess,” Rebecca told the students, referring to Princess’s journey from being a student in the VHS CNA class about 16 years ago, continuing on to earn her RN and BSN, and rising to leadership roles throughout the organization.
“I’ve come full circle,” Princess said at the beginning of the ceremony, “from being in the class to coordinating it. Utilize this experience — from here, the sky’s the limit.”
Join the team
We are recruiting for our apprentice program’s March classes at Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Gloucester. Applications are closed for the March Peninsula class. Applications open for each session about six weeks ahead of the posted start date.
The earn-as-you-learn program apprenticeship program graduates Care Assistants to Nurse Aides and covers the cost of the state certification exam to be a CNA. The nearly six-week course includes classwork, skills labs and on-the-job training at our nursing and rehabilitation centers. You continue on as a team member at VHS upon graduation.
Visit vahs.com/apprenticeship to learn more and apply.
