Isabella Lee knew she wanted to choose a career that would allow her to help people. The recent Buhach Colony High School graduate wasn’t sure what that would be until she found nursing.

Lee took one of her first steps toward reaching that goal on Thursday night when she was one of 24 MUHSD students who took part in the Merced College Summer Certified Nursing Assistant Graduation Ceremony at the Merced College Theatre.

“I feel very accomplished, and this means so much to me because I did it with my friends,” said Lee as she posed for pictures after the ceremony with some of her Buhach Colony classmates who also completed the nine-week program.

Atwater High School’s CTE Patient Care Pathway celebrated five years of its partnership with Merced College’s Certified Nursing Assistant program this past year. The partnership allows students the opportunity to earn college credit without leaving campus through dual enrollment classes, earn nursing assistant certificates and receive hands-on training.

Atwater High CTE Patient Care Pathway teacher Raj Mehat-Murphy also helps out with Merced College’s Summer CNA Program.

“Watching students reach this milestone never gets old,” Mehat-Murphy said. “I have been teaching in this program for seven years, including the past five years working with high school students, and every graduation is just as meaningful as the first. Seeing the dedication, perseverance and hard work they put in throughout the program, and then watching them receive their CNA pin, is incredibly rewarding.”

Mehat-Murphy says she enjoys working with the summer program because it allows her to work with students from across MUHSD. Students from Atwater, Buhach Colony, Livingston, El Capitan and Golden Valley joined other Merced College students who all took part in the pinning ceremony on Thursday night.

“As their theory instructor, I get to know and support students from many different backgrounds as they work toward the same goal,” Mehat-Murphy said. “It is an honor to be part of their journey, and celebrating their accomplishments at graduation is one of the most fulfilling parts of being an educator.”

Lee says she was inspired to go into the CNA program by her Buhach Colony teacher Jenna Ipock. Lee said she had Ipock for a sports medicine class during her sophomore year, and she had friends who raved about Ipock as a teacher. That inspired Lee to take other classes from her.

“I wanted to go see what her other classes were about,” Lee said. “When I did, it was like, wow, she’s very genuine about the way she works, and I like the way she teaches because she’s going to help you if you’re willing to put in that effort as well.”

That led Lee to the CNA program. It’s a challenging accelerated program. Students are in theory class for a full eight-hour day each week and spend two additional eight-hour days in clinical, caring for real patients under supervision. Students also take weekly exams, complete homework and practice hands-on skills they’ll use in long-term care facilities.

“It’s an intense schedule that requires a tremendous amount of commitment both in and out of the classroom,” Mehat-Murphy said. “Many people don’t realize how much time these students invest outside of class to master the material and build the confidence needed to provide safe, compassionate patient care. By the time they walk across the stage to receive their pin, they’ve truly earned it through hard work, perseverance and countless hours of studying and practicing. That’s what makes graduation such a special moment for all of us.”

Recent Atwater High graduate Eliza Arreola was another MUHSD student to complete the program.

“This moment means a lot to me because it took a lot of work to get here,” Arreola said. “This is taking a big step into getting into the medical pathway. I’ve always been interested in medicine. I just love working with residents and patients. I love learning about all this stuff. It was tough, but when you love doing something, it doesn’t seem like it’s forced. It comes naturally.”

Atwater High’s CNA program recently partnered with Modesto Junior College, which enabled AHS to become a testing site where students could earn their CNA certification on campus. Instead of having to travel to Sacramento, Tulare or the Bay Area, students can take their state boards at Atwater High. The California State CNA Written and Skills Licensing Examination will be held on Aug. 22 at AHS, marking the final step toward earning their CNA certification.

“Being able to take the CNA licensing examination right here at Atwater High School is a tremendous opportunity for our students,” Mehat-Murphy said. “Because AHS is an official credential testing site, students no longer have to travel two to three hours to complete their state certification exams. Instead, they can test in a familiar environment within our own district.”

“After graduation, students will return to Atwater High School to complete both the written examination and the hands-on skills examination,” she added. “If they pass both portions, they will officially become Certified Nursing Assistants. Making the testing process more accessible removes a significant barrier for our students and allows them to transition more quickly from the classroom into the healthcare workforce.”

Arreola was excited and ready to celebrate after completing the summer program. “I feel very accomplished,” she said. “It took a lot of hours, late nights and early mornings.”

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.