KENOSHA, Wis. – The first group of students accepted into the new Certified Nurse Aide program at Carthage College will attend for free, thanks to scholarship funding from local philanthropists Tom and Jan Duncan.
Applications are now available for the January 2024 cohort of the CNA program. In less than a month, aspiring health care workers can acquire the essential skills needed for an entry-level position.
Only 16 seats are available in the first session. The Duncans are providing full scholarships that cover all fees, textbooks, and supplies, saving each person in this class about $1,000.
The program will run Jan. 8-30, with in-person classes held weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The clinical component consists of two 8-hour sessions in health care settings, supervised by Carthage faculty.
Over 34 years as an administrator for Froedtert South and its predecessor, United Hospital System, Tom Duncan saw firsthand the unrelenting need for well-trained employees. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he put the administrative tasks aside to assist the overextended medical staff.
“We’re looking to develop a new generation of professionals who can take the baton as health care providers to young and old alike,” says Duncan, who retired last winter as Froedtert South’s chief operating officer. “We believe Carthage can spark their curiosity to pursue this vital and rewarding career path.”
The deadline to apply is Nov. 27. The application includes a required 250-word essay about the “ethical responsibilities of the nursing assistant.”
A panel will select scholarship recipients who best represent the four pillars of excellence laid out by the donors: education, patient care, compassion, and quality. Their son, University of Kentucky orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Duncan, is one of the reviewers.
The CNA Duncan Family Scholarship Program reflects a commitment to both health care and education that spans three generations. Tom and his wife, Jan, who aided local children’s development for more than 30 years as a speech and language therapist, calculate that their families have amassed a combined 269 years of experience in these two critical professions.
The couple admires Carthage’s blend of universally valuable liberal arts skills and in-demand offerings like the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Launched in 2015, nursing quickly became the college’s most popular major.
“We can’t stand by. We’ve got to look into the future and become it,” says Tom Duncan. “Hats off to the college for taking that forward-thinking approach.”
The Carthage CNA curriculum emphasizes compassionate care for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. Students in the program will qualify to take the state competency exam, the final step to be listed on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry.
By removing financial barriers, Tom is confident these scholarships will attract new workers to an occupation that’s often overlooked. CNAs assist residents with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating and perform other tasks under nurses’ supervision.
According to a Salary.com report in October, the median CNA salary in Wisconsin was $35,039. With a foot in the door, many aides pursue additional coursework to become a registered nurse, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician, or other health occupation.
The Duncans’ gift dovetails with two of the fundraising priorities in Carthage’s ongoing $100 million campaign: access to affordable education and program innovation. The CNA funding builds on a pair of scholarships the couple previously established at the college in their parents’ honor. Those are awarded to returning students who pursue education, pre-health, or nursing and display a commitment to physical fitness.
Fueled by a quote from Aristotle that warned against complacency, Tom says “there’s always room to do more. It just takes time and resources, and that’s what we’re fortunate enough to do here.”
To apply for the CNA program and scholarship, go to: www.carthage.edu/cna
