First High School Nursing Cohort in North Carolina Graduates
On August 4, the first cohort of the Lincoln County Health Academy participated in a graduation and pinning ceremony, marking a significant milestone as the first students in North Carolina to earn a nursing credential while simultaneously completing their high school education.
A strategic partnership between Gaston College, Lincoln County Schools, and Atrium Health Lincoln, the Academy was developed to bridge critical healthcare workforce gaps within the community. By identifying the most acute local needs, the partners designed a rigorous, accelerated pathway that allows students to graduate high school ready to enter the workforce immediately as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).
“This graduation is a milestone for education and opportunity in North Carolina,” said Dr. John Hauser, President of Gaston College. “Through this partnership with Lincoln County Schools and Atrium Health Lincoln, we are proving that by aligning education directly with critical workforce needs, we can create life-changing, debt-free pathways for our students and build a stronger, more resilient healthcare future for our community.”
“The Lincoln County Health Academy represents exactly what is possible when education, higher education, and healthcare come together with a shared purpose,” said Dr. Aaron Allen, Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools. “These graduates are leaving high school with a diploma, an in-demand healthcare credential, and the confidence to make an immediate difference in our community. We are incredibly proud of this historic first cohort and grateful to our partners at Gaston College and Atrium Health Lincoln for helping create life-changing opportunities for our students.”
“Atrium Health Lincoln joined this partnership because we believe the future of healthcare begins by investing in the communities we serve,” said Michelle Reed, chief nursing officer of Atrium Health Lincoln. “Together, with Lincoln County Schools and Gaston College, we have created an innovative pathway that gives local students the opportunity to begin a meaningful nursing career while strengthening the future healthcare workforce for our region. Celebrating this inaugural graduating class is more than a milestone — it is the realization of a shared vision to grow the next generation of nurses who will care for our community for years to come.”
Seven students from various Lincoln County High Schools made up the inaugural cohort of the Academy. With the majority having already secured local healthcare roles following graduation, the program’s success has paved the way for expansion of the Academy beyond the LPN-only pathway. The third cohort, slated to begin in the Fall of 2026, will now have access to four pathways: LPN, Medical Assisting, Paramedic, and Foundations of Healthcare, all of which are designed to meet critical local workforce needs.
“This program was a major adjustment, but the support from our instructors, the administration, and my classmates made all the difference,” said Lincoln County Health Academy graduate Zoey Hoyle. “It’s exciting to be part of the first group to prove that high school students can handle this level of coursework. I’m looking forward to starting my nursing career soon in an inpatient setting and continuing my path toward becoming an RN.”
The Academy’s coursework is completed at Gaston College’s Lincoln Campus and clinical work is completed at Atrium Health Lincoln. Participation in the Academy is free, and through the utilization of the NC Pre-Apprenticeship program, many participants in the program are also eligible for continued tuition-waived education as they advance their careers.
“I had planned to take the traditional four-year college route, but this program changed everything,” said Lincoln County Health Academy graduate Justis Robinson. “It gave me the opportunity to start my career debt-free while still fulfilling my calling to help others. Knowing I can work while continuing my education toward my RN and BSN is an incredible head start.”
