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Healthcare Fellows ready to serve

Shown are, first row, from left, schools Superintendent Mark R. Garrett; Brian Gomez Chavez; Sofia Sanchez; Miranda Escalera; BRCC President Laura B. Leatherwood; John Bryant, UNC Health Pardee vice president; Leah Jones; Jenna Logan; Addison Ducker; Henderson County Education Foundation director Peggy Marshall, Director; and Abby Gutch, of AdventHealth.

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 4, 2025

Henderson County public schools, in partnership with Blue Ridge Community College, AdventHealth Hendersonville and UNC Health Pardee celebrated the first-ever class of Healthcare Fellows last week during a Signing Day ceremony at Blue Ridge Community College.

Nine recent graduates of East Henderson, Hendersonville, North Henderson and West Henderson high schools officially committed to pursuing careers in healthcare through the new Healthcare Fellows Program, which provides full financial support and direct career pathways into the local healthcare workforce.

“These students are the first to walk this path and they’re doing so with the full support of their community behind them,” said Mark R. Garrett, superintendent of Henderson County schools. “This program is about more than access. It’s about alignment. We’re aligning our students’ passions with purposeful education and the real needs of our local healthcare system. It’s also a shining example of how strong public school systems, in partnership with community institutions, can work together to create meaningful, life-changing opportunities for students.”

The Healthcare Fellows were:

• Gracie Ballinger, West Henderson High School – UNC Health Pardee
• Keilah Camp, East Henderson High School – AdventHealth Hendersonville
• Miranda Escalera, North Henderson High School – UNC Health Pardee
• Lucia Correa Sena, North Henderson High School – AdventHealth Hendersonville
• Brian Gomez Chavez, North Henderson High School – UNC Health Pardee
• Addison Ducker, Hendersonville High School – AdventHealth Hendersonville
• Sofia Sanchez, West Henderson High School – UNC Health Pardee
• Leah Jones, North Henderson High School – AdventHealth Hendersonville
• Jenna Logan, East Henderson High School – AdventHealth Hendersonville

At the Signing Day event, each Fellow was recognized individually and received a gift from his or her sponsoring healthcare organization, along with Blue Ridge Community College gear and mementos from HCPS to commemorate the occasion. Family members, friends, and school staff gathered to celebrate alongside the students, filling the room with a sense of pride and support as the inaugural class marked the beginning of their healthcare journeys.

Fellows receive full tuition, books and required materials for their studies at Blue Ridge Community College, funded by one of the sponsoring hospitals. Upon completion of their credentialing programs in Allied Health fields, each student will begin a career with their sponsoring healthcare provider — marking a seamless transition from education to employment.

“We are tremendously proud to celebrate the inaugural Healthcare Fellows as they graduate from Henderson County Public Schools and take their next steps at Blue Ridge Community College,” BRCC President Laura B. Leatherwood said. “Thanks to the incredible support from UNC Health Pardee and AdventHealth Hendersonville, these students are beginning clear and guided paths toward meaningful careers in healthcare — right here in their own community.”

“These students have made an incredible and courageous decision to pursue a future in health care, and we couldn’t be more inspired by their commitment,” said Dr. John Bryant, vice president for operations and support services at UNC Health Pardee. “At Pardee, we’re honored to support their journey—not just financially, but as mentors, role models, and future colleagues. We look forward to walking beside them as they grow into compassionate, skilled professionals who will serve and strengthen this very community.”

“These Healthcare Fellows are stepping into a sacred calling of caring for our community and our entire team at AdventHealth is honored to walk alongside them,” said Abby Gutch, assistant chief nursing officer for AdventHealth Hendersonville. “We are excited to support these fellows in their education, mentor their growth and welcome them into a mission of providing whole-person care – body, mind and spirit - that’s bigger than any one of us. This program is a powerful reflection of what can happen when a community comes together with purpose and heart.” 

Created through a strategic collaboration among HCPS, Blue Ridge Community College, AdventHealth Hendersonville and UNC Health Pardee, the Healthcare Fellows Program is designed to remove financial barriers, provide mentorship and hands-on experience, and retain talented healthcare professionals in the region. Fellows complete dual-enrollment coursework while receiving support from both academic and clinical mentors.