BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Thirteen dual enrollment students from five rural school districts earned Certified Nursing Assistant certificates through Texas Southmost College’s Dual Enrollment CNA Program, completing a summer initiative that expands healthcare career opportunities across the Rio Grande Valley.
The students were recognized during a July 17 pinning ceremony at La Villa Early College High School, marking the completion of the program’s inaugural cohort.
The five-week program, held at La Villa ECHS, was created through TSC’s Pathways to Career Regional P-TECH Expansion initiative, funded in part by the Educate Texas Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas.
TSC collaborated with La Villa ISD, Lasara ISD, Lyford CISD, San Perlita ISD, and Santa Rosa ISD to expand dual enrollment opportunities and create pathways into high-demand healthcare careers.
Dr. Prisci Roca Tipton, TSC’s Associate Vice President of Educational Partnerships and Outreach, said the program was intentionally offered during the summer so students could continue progressing along their selected healthcare pathways without disrupting their regular academic schedules.
“It allowed students to complete their CNA coursework and earn college credit without displacing courses in their regular high school schedules,” Tipton said. “They can now use the school year to focus on completing the core and prerequisite courses required for their selected health professions pathway, such as Anatomy & Physiology I and II.”
Ruth Torres, TSC’s Director of High School Programs and Services, said interest in the program is expected to grow as students recognize dual enrollment as a pathway into healthcare careers.
“Students are seeing that dual enrollment can be part of a larger academic plan,” Torres said. “Our team works closely with students and counselors to provide intentional student planning, so each student understands which courses to take next and how those courses support the health professions pathway they have selected.”
Glendelia Chapa, a career and technical education teacher at La Villa ECHS and a TSC dual enrollment adjunct CNA instructor in the program, said students quickly embraced the opportunity.
“This is an amazing program because these kids can graduate with CNA certificates,” Chapa said. “It’s a foot in the door, and they loved it. They’re saying they want to be registered nurses and NICU nurses. It opened their eyes to the health science field.”
La Villa ECHS Principal Ilsa Ochoa said the partnership between TSC and the school districts helps students from rural districts pursue opportunities rarely offered to them.
“For our students, these are opportunities that don’t present themselves unless they go to a big school,” said Ochoa. “They have this chance to complete the coursework and it’s an amazing thing that TSC has partnered with us to do.”
Lyford High School rising senior Ximena Rodriguez hopes to become a neonatal nurse in the future. For many students like her, the program provided their first hands-on exposure to healthcare careers while helping them earn credentials before graduating from high school.
“I’ve just done agriculture classes in high school, but I want to go into nursing,” Rodriguez said. “I think it’s exciting and a good opportunity where we’re able to be with a college and be certified for free. I’ve taken classes through TSC before and I think it’s a good opportunity for our school, which doesn’t have these classes, to take advantage of that.”
Jaden Herrera, a rising senior at La Villa Early College High School who aspires to be a pediatric nurse, enjoyed getting a chance to learn alongside students from other high schools.
“I love going to the nursing homes, especially,” she said. “Seeing that is heartwarming. We all got along and created a bond. It’s not like La Villa by itself or Lyford by themselves—we were all together.”
Enelly Martinez, a rising junior at Santa Rosa High School, was one of three students from her school who took part in the program. Inspired by her mother, a school nurse, she enrolled in the program to explore a healthcare career of her own.
“My mom is our district nurse, and she’s always encouraged me to pursue a career in healthcare,” Martinez said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. My goal is to continue in the nursing program, hopefully at TSC. I’m currently taking dual-enrollment courses, and I hope to graduate with my associate degree.”
Santa Rosa ISD Superintendent Dr. Isaac Rodriguez praised the students for dedicating part of their summer to advancing their education.
“We want to send a shout to Texas Southmost College for affording them this opportunity,” he said. “All three of them are cheerleaders and active in extracurricular activities, so this helps them out in the school year where they can focus on other studies and their activities. They took advantage of their summer.”
“One day, they may become the nurses, respiratory therapists, sonographers, radiologic technologists, laboratory professionals and caregivers serving their own families and communities,” Tipton said. “This first cohort demonstrates the value of intentional dual enrollment pathways—expanding opportunity for students while strengthening the future of healthcare across our region.”
As students from the inaugural cohort move forward in their education, they carry more than a credential. They leave the program with college credit, hands-on healthcare experience and a clearer pathway toward careers that could one day serve the communities where they grew up.
