During the 2022-23 school year, Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers students had the opportunity to hear directly from two graduates about how they benefited from the program and what their college and career experiences have been like since.
“It was great to have these two successful graduates return and share what they’ve done since completing the program and how the program prepared them for their careers,” Health Science Careers instructor Christe Zambri said. “It means a lot to students when they can hear directly from recent graduates like this.”
Herkimer BOCES Health Science Careers 2018 graduate Morgan Ward and 2019 graduate Katelyn Overacker visited with students in May. During Overacker’s visit, seniors also participated in a pinning ceremony for completing the program and passing their certified nursing assistant tests to become CNAs, as juniors watched on.
Ward spoke to students about how she is enrolled in the SUNY Morrisville nursing program and has two more semesters until she’s finished.
“The Health Science Careers program prepared me by giving me the opportunity to work in the healthcare field before deciding if it was what I truly wanted to do,” Ward said. “I was able to get my CNA for free through BOCES. I was also able to get a job as a CNA right out of high school. I have worked at both nursing homes and am currently working in a hospital while I finish nursing school. I am very grateful for the opportunity that the Health Science Careers program provided me.”
Ward also told students that it’s OK to take time off to decide what you would like to do with your education.
“I think it is very important for students to know it is OK to do things at their own pace,” Ward said. “There is no need to rush your education.”
Overacker spoke to students about her experiences in the Health Science Careers program and said she had a lot of fun. She said she created lifelong friendships and developed strong leadership and public speaking skills.
She also felt that being a HOSA-Future Health Professionals member contributed to her leadership and public speaking skills. She utilized these skills each semester because public speaking was a requirement.
Overacker completed high school with her CNA certification and also her electrocardiogram (EKG) technician certification. On May 13, she graduated from the St. Elizabeth College of Nursing, and she was hired by the Mohawk Valley Health System’s Hobart Street Clinical. She will be working alongside her mother, Billi Jean Overacker, who was a Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student. Zambri is also an instructor for the adult licensed practical nursing (LPN) program, so she taught both the mother and daughter, who will now be working together.
Katelyn Overacker has plans to apply to Upstate Medical University to continue her studies in nursing and eventually become a nurse practitioner.
She said the Health Science Careers program prepared her for nursing school in many ways. She felt like she was ahead of the other students in terms of having strong communication skills and experience with hands-on patient care. Many of the students she attended college with had never studied healthcare or practiced in a clinical setting, she said.
The seniors who participated in the pinning ceremony during Overacker’s visit spoke about how much the experience meant to them.
“It was a real honor to get my pin from Ms. Zambri,” graduating senior Madison Chapman said. “For the last two years, I was looking forward to my CNA test, and the day I took it, I was so nervous about the written part, and when I passed, I cried. So today to get pinned was an honor. Ms. Zambri has taught me to be a student and always stuck by my side through all my moments.”
Graduating senior Lindsay Pierson shared similar sentiments and her gratitude for Zambri.
“No matter the hard times I have had at BOCES, I knew I could always rely on Ms. Zambri,” Pierson said. “When she gave me that hug, it felt like I finally accomplished my goal from when I was a kid.”
Junior students also appreciated the experience of being there for the ceremony.
“As we watched the seniors get pinned today, it gave us a goal to reach for next year,” junior Zoey Caldwell said. “It’s something to look forward to, and these are the people we look up to. We want to be getting pinned at this point next year as the Class of 2024.”
Junior Brianna Williams agreed.
“Seeing someone so important in our lives and someone who encourages us to do our best every single day and pushes us to our goals like Ms. Zambri being able to pin us kids gives us juniors something to look forward to and makes us want to work hard and achieve a goal that’s so important,” she said.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers program 2019 graduate Katelyn Overacker (left) speaks with Health Science Careers student Reagan Stock. Overacker shared her experiences after graduation and gave advice on how to prepare for nursing school. Stock is planning to attend college and study to be a registered nurse.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers program 2018 graduate Morgan Ward poses with the Health Science Careers class in May when she visited to speak to the students about her college and career experiences.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers program 2019 graduate Katelyn Overacker poses with the Health Science Careers class in May when she visited to speak to the students about her college and career experiences.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers program 2019 graduate Katelyn Overacker (left) poses with Health Science Careers instructor Christe Zambri when Overacker was a student in the class.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers program 2018 graduate Morgan Ward poses for a photo when she was a student in the class.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers program 2019 graduate Katelyn Overacker (right) poses with her mother, Billi Jean Overacker, who is a graduate of the Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program, after Katelyn Overacker graduated from the St. Elizabeth College of Nursing on May 13. The mother and daughter will be working together at the Mohawk Valley Health System’s Hobart Street Clinical.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers program 2019 graduate Katelyn Overacker (left) poses for a photo when she visited the class in May.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Health Science Careers program 2019 graduate Katelyn Overacker (left) poses with Health Science Careers instructor Christe Zambri when Overacker visited the class in May.