BLUEFIELD, WV (LOOTPRESS) — Twenty-one high school students from across southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia were recognized Thursday during the Graduation and Pinning Ceremony for the 2026 West Virginia Junior Nurse Academy at Bluefield State University’s Medical Education Center.
The academy, a partnership among Bluefield State University, WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital, and Princeton Rescue Squad, provides students with an immersive introduction to nursing and a wide range of healthcare professions through hands-on learning, clinical experiences, and mentorship from healthcare professionals.
Designed to inspire the next generation of healthcare providers, the annual program gives participants an up-close look at the many career opportunities available in today’s healthcare field while helping address the growing workforce needs of the region.
“This academy gives students an opportunity to experience nursing beyond the classroom,” said Bluefield State University President Darrin Martin. “By working alongside experienced healthcare professionals and learning in a real-world environment, these students gain a deeper understanding of both the science and the compassion that define the nursing profession. We are proud to partner with WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital and Princeton Rescue Squad to help develop tomorrow’s healthcare workforce.”
Sandra Wynn, coordinator of the West Virginia Junior Nurse Academy, said the program exposes students to much more than nursing.
“It is a good chance to show them the healthcare field because they look at not only nursing,” Wynn said. “They saw a lot of healthcare over the last three days, so even if they do not decide on nursing, they may have seen something that sparked their interest, like radiological technology or something similar. We can then help guide them in that direction.”
For Wynn, one of the most rewarding aspects of coordinating the academy has been watching former participants return to the healthcare field as registered nurses and other healthcare professionals, demonstrating the program’s lasting impact on the region.
During Thursday’s ceremony, students received commemorative pins recognizing their successful completion of the academy.
The 2026 West Virginia Junior Nurse Academy graduates are Hannah Alvis, Jasmin Bixby, Rosa Burgos-Canterbury, Abel Butkovich, Isabella Cartwright, Dezjahnae Cooke, Veronica Claggett, Kelsi Cochran-Flack, Corinthia Hannon, Kylee Johnson, Ethan Kim, Leah Lawson, Halen Morello, Ava Neese, Skyler Roupe, Lila Samsel, Kasey Scarberry, Isabella Taylor, Jeremy Todt, Zoey White and Abigail Widener.
Bluefield State University extends its appreciation to the faculty, staff, healthcare professionals, and community partners whose time and expertise helped make this year’s academy a success. The University also thanks its partners at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital and Princeton Rescue Squad for their continued commitment to introducing young people to rewarding careers in healthcare.
The West Virginia Junior Nurse Academy continues to strengthen the pipeline of future healthcare professionals by giving students firsthand exposure to careers that make a difference in their communities, whether in nursing, emergency medicine, medical imaging, laboratory sciences, or other healthcare disciplines.
For more information on the program, visit: Bluefieldstate.edu
