E³ STEM CNA students working at Augustana Regent in Burnsville
Allison Chuick, Exploration, Education, Employment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (E³ STEM) grant coordinator at Dakota County Technical College, reported that 29 students completed the Nursing Assistant 5-credit certificate program at DCTC during summer semester 2017. Allison noted that DCTC is working with Augustana Regent in Burnsville, a senior independent and assisted living center, to train DCTC students seeking career opportunities as certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
Seven E³ STEM students who passed the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (NA/HHA) Competency Exam are working at Augustana Regent, including Mya Hardiman and Muna Hussein, both Apple Valley High School students, class of 2018.
As one of the more rewarding aspects of her role as E³ STEM grant coordinator, Allison has visited Augustana Regent on several occasions to see how the E³ STEM students are doing.
“During each visit, I have been told time and time again how marvelous our kids are and how the residents and staff are so pleased with the relationship between Augustana Regent and the E³ STEM program,” Allison said. “One of my favorite parts is seeing our students interact with the seniors. While a little nervous at first, our students were soon totally engaged in conversations with residents and even exchanging high-fives.”
More about E³ STEM…
In 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $2.98 million Youth CareerConnect (YCC) grant to a partnership between Independent School District 196, Dakota County Technical College, Inver Hills Community College, the Dakota-Scott Workforce Investment Board and several top area employers, including Thomson Reuters, Emerson, Uponor and Augustana Regent.
ISD 196, in conjunction with Apple Valley High School, is the lead on the funded program: E³ STEM, or Exploration, Education, Employment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
E³ STEM student spotlights
Mya Hardiman
Mya Hardiman, 17, is originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, and today resides in Burnsville. Mya is a student at Apple Valley High School and is scheduled to graduate in 2018. A participant in the E³ STEM program at AVHS, she took the Nursing Assistant 5-credit certificate program at DCTC during summer semester 2017 and went on to pass the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (NA/HHA) Competency Exam.
Mya works at Augustana Regent in Burnsville as a home health aide. Her duties include assisting elderly residents with their daily care needs while helping them maintain their full abilities. When she’s not studying or working, Mya likes playing volleyball, taking her little sister to do fun things, and hanging out with her friends.
Four words that describe you as a health care professional:
OUTGOING. HELPFUL. GOOD LISTENER.
Mya Q & A
What did you like best about the E³ STEM program at AVHS?
I loved how I was able to explore a career field that interests me. The program supported me the entire way through until I got a job working as a home health aide.
What did you like best about the Nursing Assistant course at DCTC?
I really liked the teacher and how hands-on the course was.
What do you like best about working at Augustana Regent in Burnsville?
The amount of impact I’m able to have on the residents during the last years of life is the best part of my job.
Why did you choose health care as you career field?
I chose the health care career field because my sister was born with many birth defects, and without the nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, my sister would not be alive today. These nurses inspired me to want to help others live longer as well, despite their diseases.
Mya | 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball
- Place you would most like to visit: Cancun, Mexico
- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: I spoke with the U.S Senate and other E³ STEM business partners on what our program does and how we can better it for future
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.”
- Favorite all-time TV show: Law & Order: SVU
- Favorite all-time movie: Parent Trap
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Cure my first terminal disease as a molecular biologist
- Most precious material possession: My phone
- Dream occupation: Molecular biologist
- Person you would most like to meet: Michelle Obama
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Fluency in Spanish and Somali languages
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Equality
More about the Nursing Assistant program…
The Nursing Assistant program will prepare you to assist dependent elderly persons, home-care clients and hospital patients with their personal care needs. This five-credit course combines home health aide content with the nursing assistant curriculum. The Nursing Assistant program is accredited by the Minnesota Department of Health.
When you graduate from the program, you are eligible to take the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (NA/HHA) Competency Exam for placement on the Minnesota Department of Health Registry.
Muna Hussein
Muna Hussein, 17, is a longtime resident of Burnsville, Minnesota. Muna goes to Apple Valley High School, where she participates in the E³ STEM program. She is on track to graduate in 2018. She took the Nursing Assistant 5-credit certificate program at DCTC during summer semester 2017 and went on to pass the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (NA/HHA) Competency Exam.
Muna works as a CNA at Augustana Regent in Burnsville. Her duties include helping residents with their daily activities. In her free time, Muna enjoys jogging and drawing.
Three words that describe you as a health care professional:
FUN. OUTGOING. CONFIDENT.
Muna Q & A
What did you like best about the E³ STEM program at AVHS?
Taking advantage of the great opportunities the program’s provides to students. I don’t think I would have ever taken the courses over the years if it wasn’t for E³ STEM.
What did you like best about the Nursing Assistant course at DCTC?
I really liked the instructor. She works in the field and gave us some insights on what to expect. Her personality lit up the class.
What do you like best about working at Augustana Regent in Burnsville?
I really like the connections I make with the residents and staff. As I was training, I told the staff that Augustana Regent is a great environment. It just feels like home!
Why did you choose health care as you career field?
I was always interested in science.
Muna | 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Pilates and tabata workouts
- Place you would most like to visit: Thailand
- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Learning ice skating in Milwaukee
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Live life to its fullest as if you were going to die tomorrow.”
- Favorite all-time TV show: Gossip Girl
- Favorite all-time movie: Everything, Everything
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Have all my hard work pay off
- Most precious material possession: My phone, credit card
- Dream occupation: Anesthesiologist (if I can spell it right)
- Person you would most like to meet: Halima Aden
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Cartwheel
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Extreme poverty and killing in third-world countries
To learn more about the E³ STEM program, contact:
Kristy Kellogg
Post-Secondary E³ STEM Program Manager
Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College
651-423-8250
You can also read “Alicia Duo Named to YCC Honor Roll” on DCTC News
To learn more about the Nursing Assistant program at DCTC, contact:
Brenda Arneson
Nursing Faculty
651-423-8234
