This year marks an exciting new chapter for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Health Occupations Program in southern Illinois. For the first time, Meridian High School is hosting the program, welcoming students not only from its own district but also from neighboring Cairo High School. This partnership demonstrates the importance of building strong connections, as two communities come together to prepare young people for meaningful careers in health care.

The program, officially part of the Five County Regional Vocational offerings, is now in its fourth year. But thanks to the support of Meridian CUSD, Shawnee Community College, and regional funding sources, the program has been elevated to a new level. What was once a high school science lab at Meridian has been transformed into a state-of-the-art training center, complete with new flooring, equipment, and a fully functional skills lab. The result is a learning environment that gives students real-world experiences long before graduation.

Leading the program is registered nurse and educator Jill Bosacker, who teaches medical terminology, health occupations, and high school health, in addition to the CNA coursework. “We’ve been able to provide so much more here,” Bosacker said proudly. “Meridian went above and beyond to give us the best equipment. We have new mannequins on the way, a geriatric mannequin, a ‘Rescue Randy’ training dummy that weighs 165 pounds, and even infant simulators that will be used in a baby care curriculum. The resources available to students this year are second to none.”

Students are already immersed in both classroom learning and hands-on practice. They will ultimately be required to master 21 skills mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health, from proper handwashing to safe patient transfers. Alongside these technical skills, they will earn CPR certification and prepare to pass both a written and practical state test. Those who succeed will graduate not just with a high school diploma, but with a professional credential that allows them to enter the workforce immediately.

That opportunity is not lost on the students, many of whom already see this program as a launching pad for bigger goals. “I want to get my LPN and then my RN,” said Meridian student Kalea Wiggins. Classmate Tariana Moore echoed the same dream, while another student, Santana Gilbert, shared her ambition of becoming a traveling nurse. Other students expressed both excitement and nerves—some admitted their biggest fear was not passing the state exam, while others worried about making mistakes in clinical practice.

Those clinical experiences will take place at the Anna Veterans Home, where students spend five Saturdays working full shifts alongside professionals. The hands-on exposure is essential, giving participants the chance to practice their skills in a real health care environment and to experience the demands—and rewards—of caring for patients.

Bosacker stresses that the program is about more than technical proficiency. “If my students learn nothing else, I hope they learn compassion,” she said. “You have to love people, even when they are different from you. This program teaches them to treat every person with respect and kindness. One day, they may be caring for me, or their own families, and I want them prepared not just with skills, but with heart.”

That emphasis on compassion has helped bridge divides. Meridian and Cairo students have historically had little interaction, but in this program, they work side by side and quickly form bonds. “This program has been amazingly successful at bringing students together,” Bosacker said. “I’ve seen lifelong friendships develop here. We’ve bridged that gap, and in doing so, we’re building stronger connections for the future.”

The impact of the program is already felt across the community. Former students are working as CNAs while pursuing further nursing education, while others have gone directly into the workforce. Families in the region often provide feedback to Bosacker, praising the care their loved ones receive from her former students. “That means more to me than anything,” she reflected. “Knowing that the young people I trained are making a difference in people’s lives, right here in our community.”

Beyond preparing students for careers, the program also creates opportunities for service. Each year, the CNA students coordinate a community blood drive, participate in field trips such as visiting a cadaver lab near St. Louis, and engage in other projects that connect classroom learning to the real world.

Bosacker put it best: “I’ve probably not been more proud of anything in my nursing career than this program. It’s rewarding to know we are training the next generation of caregivers.”