Surry-Yadkin Works interns sign with Hugh Chatham Health

DOBSON — Fifteen area students have completed pre-apprenticeships at Hugh Chatham Health and are accepting apprenticeships or part-time positions to continue their education in the healthcare field through the Surry-Yadkin Works program.

Fifteen of the pre-apprentices, 11 of whom are area high school students and four who are adult students at Surry Community College, will be working full-time and part-time at Hugh Chatham Health while continuing their education. Four of the pre-apprentices will be working part-time while they pursue their education at a four-year university or two-year college.

Paul Hammes, CEO of Hugh Chatham Health, said, “There are few greater investments we can make than in our students and aspiring healthcare professionals. They are the future of our workforce, our economy, and a stronger community overall. We are extremely proud to partner with Surry-Yadkin Works — a national model that will make a difference for generations across the Yadkin Valley.”

Completing pre-apprenticeships and continuing as employees are Laken Brooks, Liam King, Emma Longworth, Georgia Longworth, Adamari Morales-Castro, Aydan Parks, Brian Wilson and Dorothy “Emma” Woods.

Six Surry-Yadkin Works pre-apprentices working at HCH signed as PRN at the event and will be working on a part-time basis. “PRN” stands for the Latin phrase “Pro re nata,” meaning “as needed,” and “occasionally.” They are Alyson Correa, Sierra Crabb, Ashley Medel-Patricio, Maggie Ray, Evelyn Ruiz and Amanda Shaffner. One pre-apprentice, Samantha Eldridge, signed on as a full-time employee.

This special opportunity is a part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program and the state’s ApprenticeshipNC program through the N.C. Community College System Office that combines a paid work-based learning experience with classroom academics leading to a national certification. These students will earn free tuition for the Associate Degree in Nursing program at a North Carolina community college to become registered nurses.

For more information about apprenticeships at Hugh Chatham Health, contact the Hugh Chatham Health Human Resources department at (336) 527-7664 or email humanresources@hughchatham.org.

Surry-Yadkin Works is the first community-based internship program of its kind in North Carolina, officially beginning on January 1, 2021, covering a two-county region. Surry-Yadkin Works is the collaborative effort of four public school systems in Surry and Yadkin counties including Elkin City Schools, Mount Airy City Schools, Surry County Schools, and Yadkin County Schools, as well as Surry Community College, to create an innovative and unique approach to a regional internship program. The funding is also a joint effort with commitments from the Surry County Commissioners and the Yadkin County Commissioners. For more information about the Surry-Yadkin Works program, contact Crystal Folger-Hawks, Surry-Yadkin Works Program Director, at (336) 401-7820 or folger-hawksc@surry.edu or visit www.surryyadkinworks.org.