UA Cossatot Announces their LPN Graduates

UA Cossatot hosted a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) graduation and pinning ceremony on Friday, June 25, at the UA Cossatot Bank of Lockesburg Historic Gymnasium.

Graduates included: Sanjuana Alvarez-Hernandez, Victoria Boyd, Heather Bradshaw, Dondria Burdette, Rosio Cisneros, Brittany Crumpler, Elizabeth DiBucci, Yatzari Dominguez, Hannah Fry, Myranda Gross, Caitlin Harding, Evie Harris, Crystal Hernandez, Alondra Lerma, Haley Manasco, Ana Martinez, Leslie Martinez, Emily McCarley, Hannah Pate, Alexis Rubio, Gabriela Ruiz, Shyla Schwartz, Maeghan Vaughn, Caylee Young, Victoria Alfaro, Ada Camarillo, Aldair Guerrero, Kimberly McCauley, Samantha Molina, JaQuasha Ogden, and Hailey Oglesby.

The Practical Nursing Program offers two educational formats for students, an 11-month day program that begins in August and ends in June and an 18-month evening program that begins in January and ends in June of the following year. Students successfully completing the Practical Nursing Program Course are awarded a Technical Certificate. The course of study meets the requirements of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, and after graduation, students are eligible to apply for the State licensing examination to become an LPN.

Dr. Ashley Aylett, Vice Chancellor for Academics, stated “we are extremely happy we were able to gather in-person to celebrate these LPN graduates. We are always proud of all our graduates, but we are especially proud of this LPN cohort. The COVID-19 pandemic made the past year extremely difficult to navigate for most everyone. This particular group of LPN students experienced a complete change in the way the nursing program was delivered—requiring them to transition to several months of virtual learning, testing, and clinical. These students’ dedication and determination are evident through the successful completion of the program during a time like none of us have experienced. This was also our first time hosting the nursing pinning combined with the conferral of degrees. This allowed students and families to gather for a single ceremony versus two as we have done in the past. We feel the single ceremony was extremely meaningful and successful.”

For more information on UA Cossatot’s LPN program, contact Medical Education at 870-584-1211.

ARNEC Application Deadline is August 31st

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 31, 2021 

ARNEC offers an LPN/LVN-to-RN transition program. Graduates receive an Associate of Applied Science (AASN) in Nursing, which prepares them to apply for RN licensure and sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. ARNEC strives to provide a high-quality, comprehensive, accessible, and affordable Registered Nursing program to students in rural Arkansas. 

For more information or to apply, visit www.arnec.org 

For questions, email ARNEC@cccua.edu 

*Completion of the ARNEC program does not guarantee the ability to obtain licensure or take the NCLEX-RN exam. This is determined by the board of nursing in the state the applicant is applying. 

De Queen High School and UAC Offer New Leopard Medical Academy

De Queen High School is proud to partner with the University of Arkansas Cossatot to launch the Leopard Medical Academy beginning in the 2021-2022 school year. Leopard Medical Academy will be a medical pathway of concurrent courses that students in 10th-12th grades can take to acquire all of the pre-requisites for the LPN/RN degree programs at UAC. Students can apply for the eleven-month LPN program at UAC during their senior year of high school and then transition to the RN program upon acceptance. The Leopard Medical Academy will provide students with the opportunity to complete 46 hours of pre-requisite courses while in high school at no cost to the students. The completion of Leopard Medical Academy will also prepare students for the majority of the prerequisite courses for the PTA and OTA programs at UAC.

District Compliance Coordinator Misty Gentry stated, “This is an exciting opportunity for students who are interested in the medical field and another example of community stakeholders working together with De Queen Public Schools to prepare our students for future careers. We are excited to once again partner with UAC to offer this excellent opportunity for our students!”

DHS Principal Bryan Blackwood stated, “We are very excited to offer our students courses in the medical field. We have had many students that have made nursing their career choice. The Leopard Medical Academy will allow our students to enter the nursing program with all of their prerequisites completed.”

Superintendent Jason Sanders stated, “I want to thank UA Cossatot and Dr. Steve Cole for making this partnership available to us. One of our biggest goals in public education is that when we graduate a senior on a Friday night, that the student has a plan to go to on the next Monday morning. This program gives us a direct path for students interested in the medical field to take classes while in high school and go directly into a UA Cossatot medical program upon graduation.”

“For a parent, this program basically takes off a year of basic classes that the student can complete while in high school at no cost. We are very excited about the new hospital which will create opportunities for our students to take part in job shadowing for this program. This program has the potential to provide a future pipeline of De Queen students to fill needed job positions with the Sevier County Medical Center and other area healthcare employers.”

Medical Education Reason #1522 of the 2021 Reasons to Attend UA Cossatot this Spring

Start your journey toward achieving your dream medical career with UA Cossatot! Whether you are working toward your EMT certification, entering into the field of nursing as an LPN, or wanting to become a physical or occupational therapy assistant, the rigorous classroom and in-field experience you will receive at UA Cossatot will ensure that you are prepared to enter into your chosen field at the end of your degree or certificate experience.

In addition to classes and training on the UAC campus, medical degree programs such as Radiology Tech and RN to BSN tracks are available through collaborative programs with other state-affiliated colleges and universities. Some areas of study in the medical professions also offer opportunities for receiving additional financial aid - such as through nursing scholarships.

Do you have questions regarding UAC’s medical programs? Check us out online at: https://www.cccua.edu/programs-of-study/medical-education