Inspired to serve others through nursing
Inspired to serve others through nursing
Koker Hernandez is focused on a future in nursing . His passion for the medical field began about 16 years ago when his brother , age 3 at the time , was battling a serious illness . Hernandez and his family were racked with worry .
NWTC student becomes first in her family to earn diploma
“ The compassionate nurses got us through some of the worst moments in our lives ,” he said .
A December 2023 graduate of the Nursing-Associate Degree program , Hernandez is ready to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families . A testament to his dedication , Hernandez received the Nursing program ’ s Outstanding Student Award last spring .
Like many students , Hernandez ’ s higher ed journey hasn ’ t been a straight path . For example , he originally planned to attend NWTC for just a semester or two before transferring to UW- Green Bay ’ s bachelor of nursing program . After one semester at NWTC , however , he was hooked ...
CONTINUE reading Koker ’ s story :
For recent High School Equivalency Diploma ( HSED ) graduate Madison Winstead , coming to NWTC was a way to “ break the cycle ” and “ keep moving forward .”
Growing up in the foster system , Winstead bounced between foster homes before she was adopted . That experience made her feel like she lacked positive role models growing up and led to the decision to drop out of high school as a teenager . At the time , she was focused on survival and did not understand the importance of education .
A single mother , Winstead quickly realized she needed a change to support her family . That change was education . In 2023 she enrolled in HSED courses at NWTC
Shawano and persisted to become the first in her family to earn a diploma at the secondary level .
“ Education is the key to overcoming and breaking the cycle ,” said Winstead . “ I am the first in my family to earn a degree , and it is a fulfilling and empowering experience .”
With her diploma in hand , Winstead is now on a new path to success . She plans to pursue a career in American Sign Language , a language she is already fluent in because her foster father was deaf . Her passion for her family , improving herself , and giving back to others has seen her through tough times and a history-making accomplishment . We cannot wait to see what she will do next .
Read more of our short stories at nwtc . edu / Blog
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