HCC to offer Basic Nursing Assistant class at Pinecrest Grove Community Center
4/6/2017

MOUNT MORRIS, IL -- Pinecrest Community has received a grant from the A. Charles and Lillemor Lawrence Foundation to fund a classroom at the Grove Community Center, Mount Morris, IL.

This grant allowed Pinecrest to purchase new computers and a large-screen television which will be used by Highland Community College to teach a Basic Nursing Assistant certificate program at the Mount Morris location. The program prepares students to enter the healthcare workforce. It is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Students who complete the program are eligible for the Nurse Aide Training Competency Evaluation to become a Basic Nurse Assistant (BNA).

The first class at the Grove Community Center, with a maximum of eight students, will begin June 6 and end July 6. Classes and clinicals will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Registration is now open. Students may register for this class through Highland Community College.

An open house to showcase the new classroom space at the Grove Community Center, 500 Evergreen Lane, was held on Tuesday, April 4, with members of the A. Charles and Lillemor Lawrence Foundation family, plus Ferol Labash, CEO of Pinecrest Community. People were able to view computers donated, and the lab, which will be used for classroom clinicals. Those in attendance from Highland were Jennifer Grobe, Interim Associate Dean of Nursing & Allied Health and Cassie Mekeel, instructor for the BNA program. Kent and Kathy Lawrence and Ron Bry, who represent the Lawrence Foundation were able to view donated computers and lab equipment.

From left to right: Ron Bry, from the Lawrence Foundation, Jen Grobe, Cassie Mekeel, Kathy Lawrence, Kent Lawrence and Ferol Labash, CEO of Pinecrest Community

Contact Cassie Mekeel at cassie.mekeel@highland.edu with any questions about the course. To register for this course contact HCC Admissions at 815.599.3414.

Scholarship opportunities for this program are available through the Ole Hiteman Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Ole Hiteman Memorial Scholarship is a renewable $1,200 scholarship to be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and room and board, at a community, 4-year college or vocational school. This scholarship is open to Ogle County residents with preference given to Oregon and Forreston high school graduates, Contact Rob Urish at 815-734-4762 or r.urish@comcast.net for more information.

Cassie Mekeel, the instructor for the BNA program, talks to Kaylie Hughes of Mt. Morris about the BNA program during an open house held Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at the Grove Community Center in Mt. Morris.

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OFFICE OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
2998 W. Pearl City Road
Freeport, IL 61032-9341

815-235-6121
Fax 815-235-6130