Tonawanda Student Succeeding in the Health Careers Program on Her Journey to Nursing

Tonawanda City School District student Marlea Kolepp is thriving as she studies in the Health Careers program at the Kenton Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center. Marlea said her goal was to work in primary care and preventative medicine, with a goal of making her community a better place.

“I’ve always wanted to go into healthcare to help others and learn more about the human body,” Marlea explains. “This program has given me background knowledge for my future endeavors and helped me build relationships with others and patients.”

Instructor Maggie Holler described Marlea as “a well-rounded student who is the first to help others in a time of need.”

“She always volunteers, whether it’s for another student or a patient, showing that she truly cares about others,” Holler said.

The program teaches students a wide range of skills to become a supportive caregiver through clinical experiences in a variety of health care environments, including long term care facilities and hospitals. Beyond her classroom studies, Marlea said she enjoyed the strong friendships she formed while being in the program. Marlea said she plans to attend college after graduation to pursue a career in nursing.

“I love helping people,” Marlea said. “It has also taught me important life skills that I wouldn’t have learned if I hadn’t joined.”