Congratulations, Graduates!

Kudos and congratulations to all our graduating members and apprentices!

We celebrated several program graduations over the summer, including: Bellevue College’s RN to BSN pinning ceremony, Introduction to Healthcare employment & Apprenticeship Program (with Seattle Jobs Initiative), Behavioral Health Apprenticeship graduation, and our first Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship with Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center.

We are so proud of all these new graduates: Nursing Assistant-Certified participants who completed their training; and the Medical Assistant apprentices, Behavioral Health, and Pharmacy Technician apprentices who have completed their apprenticeships.

Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Graduation

The Training Fund hosted our first Behavioral Health Apprenticeship graduation on July 18th, 2024. We celebrated graduates from our Behavioral Health Technician Apprenticeship, Peer Counselor Apprenticeship, and Substance Use Disorder Professional Apprenticeship programs. It has been our honor to support these apprentices on their journey and celebrate this huge accomplishment. 

“I currently work with residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or schizophrenia. It was different to me and I wanted to learn more about these health issues that constantly develop with our elderly population. The more the class progressed, the more I learned on how these health issues can be caused or how we can assist these residents as well.

The Training Fund constantly checks up on me and sees how I am doing with work as well as any needs I may have. I always had a fear of speaking publicly but with Jessica as our instructor for BHT she brought me out of my shell, and I completely lost that fear.”

Karla Martinez-Zuniga, Behavioral Health Technician Apprentice, Cascade Senior Living Services

RN to BSN Pinning Ceremony

Congratulations to the members who graduated from the RN-to-BSN program at Bellevue College this year. The program is part-time or full-time, low-residency, and has a flexible hybrid model. Training Fund members have priority acceptance into this program.

“Going to school while working full time and balancing a family can be really challenging. The Training Fund helped by covering tuition, fees, and books for my last 2 quarters of the BSN program. I have always wanted to work in healthcare and although my role has changed over time, the passion and reward I feel in taking care of others endures. I’m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to do a residency in the NICU and I love my patients and being able to help families through what can be a really challenging time. “

Meeral Khatri, RN, Valley Medical Center 

Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Programs (IHAP)

Fifteen participants graduated from the Spring 2024 IHAP cohort with Seattle Jobs Initiative. Our first IHAP cohort in Pierce County in partnership with Arivva also completed their training.

“I want to start off with saying that my passion is caregiving. Unfortunately, I struggled with addiction issues. My addiction ended up taking me away from my family, my friends, my passion. I had to change the people and places around me. I’m actually gaining two years of sobriety this month. I decided to work in the IHAP program, after I saw others complete the IHAP program and the NA-C program. This is an opportunity to get back into my passion.”

Kianna Hill

Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship in High School

The pilot Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center (Snohomish County) apprenticeship program for Pharmacy Technicians is a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship opportunity for high school students in WA state. Apprentices also earn college credit in partnership with North Seattle College. We are thrilled to celebrate the first graduates of this program!

“This program is geared toward the industry. We are developing students so that they are industry ready when they complete the program. They got their high school credits, college credits, and got paid while they were doing it. It’s a win win win!”

Shelly Griner, Instructor

“This apprenticeship program has impacted my life by creating the opportunity for me to apply my love for healthcare, and also help others in the real world,”

Arizona, first apprentice of the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship class