Program helps at-risk students succeed

Seven young people recently graduated from the "Believe to Achieve" program, a collaborative effort between MERS (Metropolitan Employment and Rehabilitation Services) Goodwill, the Cape Girardeau School District, the Cape Girardeau Alternative School and Southeast Missouri Hospital. The graduates were Candace Moore, Amber Strauser, Shauntel Moore, Christy Cowson, Dimesha Cotton, Lataisha Roberts and Samantha Deal. The program was partially funded by the Southeast Missouri WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) Initiative, which awarded the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation $31,338 for the program. Believe to Achieve students completed 100 hours of on-the-job training and 30 hours of classroom education for nurse assistant training. Designed to assist at risk students by providing the tools necessary to succeed in both the school and work-force settings candidates are eligible for an interview for an entry-level position within the hospital after successful completion of the eight-week program. The second class of Believe to Achieve has nine students and will conclude May 22.