Strom Thurmond High School and Self Regional Healthcare recently signed a partnership on May 15 to join Strom Thurmond High School student career aspirations and community workforce needs.
Self Regional Healthcare is the new title sponsor and community partner of Storm Thurmond High School’s Human Services and Business Academy.
“We are thrilled to embark on this collaborative journey that promises to enrich the educational experience of our students here at Strom Thurmond High School,” said Nate Horton, Strom Thurmond High School career academy specialist. “Working closely with Self Regional Healthcare, our students will benefit from direct access to industry professionals, cutting edge technologies and relevant workplace experiences. Together, we are committed to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence, where Strom Thurmond High School students can reveal their full potential and emerge as the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.”
This partnership will use the career academy model, in which academic coursework will be paired with real-world industry exposure. This should equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to graduate both college and career ready.
“Health science is a big need in our community. We thank Self Regional Healthcare for joining us on this journey as our very first business partner of our Career Academy Model at Strom Thurmond,” said Dr. Kevin O’Gorman, Edgefield County Public School District Superintendent. “By bringing in business partners that help our teachers and students learn academic content in tandem with career skills that interest our students, it will provide a more meaningful and relevant high school experience for our students.”
“This partnership, along with our career center teachers, will help to broaden our horizons for our students and for the adults in our buildings as well,” said Strom Thurmond High School Principal, Fran Altringer. “Once our students graduate, we want them to have a direction, a plan, a path, and the skills and experiences to help carry them into life. We appreciate the bravery and vision of Self Regional Healthcare in joining us in this partnership. We’re committed to Self Regional Healthcare, Self Regional Healthcare is committed to us, and we’re all committed to you, our students.”
Self Regional Healthcare is an independent, non-profit, regional hospital that provides care to 300,000 people in Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Saluda, McCormick, Edgefield, and Newberry counties. Its services include acute care and tertiary care, cancer care, neurosurgery, heart and vascular surgery, NICU, orthopedics, genetics, and prevention and wellness services.
“Healthcare is rapidly changing. We just came out of a pretty big pandemic, but we’re also facing a very aging population, and this is going to really increase the demand for healthcare professionals,” said Sherri Gordon, Self Regional Healthcare assistant vice president. “Technology is also evolving, and interestingly enough, technology in healthcare actually requires more people and not less. I think the healthcare fields are wide open. Something I tell people all the time is that healthcare is not just a vocation, it’s a calling. It has to be something you feel drawn to and something you enjoy. Fortunately for you, as students, it’s a field that is extremely diverse, and there are all kinds of places where you can find that joy.”
Several Strom Thurmond High School students attended the partner recognition ceremony.
“What truly sets our program apart is our new partnership with Self Regional Healthcare,” said Sophie Simpkins, a health science student at Strom Thurmond High School. “It’s a partnership built on a shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community. Our students will also have access to real-world learning opportunities, cutting-edge research facilities, and seasoned healthcare professionals.”
“I am filled with hope and excitement for what the future holds,” said Mary Grace Fallaw, a health science student at Strom Thurmond High School. “In our new partnership with Self Regional Healthcare, we will have the power to transform lives, elevate healthcare, and create a healthier and brighter future for all.”
“Perhaps the greatest benefit of our partnership is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of our community,” said Simpkins. “Together, we are not just training new healthcare professionals, but we are shaping the future of healthcare, driving positive change, and improving outcomes for patients and families across our region.”
