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High school students from Freer and Premont ISDs received their white coats and pins during a ceremony Wednesday for pursuing healthcare training at Del Mar College.
As part of the Rural Schools Innovation Zone (RSIZ) initiative, which includes the Next Generation Medical Academy, 12 students from Freer High School and six from Premont High School have completed Del Mar College Health Sciences’ 64-hour Electrocardiography (EKG) Program through the DMC Continuing Education & Off-Campus Programs Division.
The RSIZ includes Brooks County, Freer and Premont ISDs and Del Mar College. The Next Generation Medical Academy prepares students for college and careers with a focus in health science such as a certified nurse assistant, patient care technician or a licensed vocational or registered nurse.
The program will begin for the 2021-22 school year.
University president Kelly Miller said the academy program began years ago with the intent of offering students both credit courses and an opportunity to be at TAMU-CC. We felt that it was very important for students who were exploring and excited to go to college, particularly first-generation college students, to have a chance to actually be on a college campus, Miller said. I was very fortunate at a different point of my career to be involved in putting that program together. To see it come to fruition today and to see the opportunities we have with 75 students that will be coming from Premont ISD to take part in this is extremely exciting.