(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – May 29, 2024) — Close to 400 health science students at El Paso ISD are set to graduate this June, and the school district is setting up the young educators for success right after high school.
On Wednesday, May 29, the Career and Technical Education Department (CTE) hosted the 2nd annual Healthcare Expo and Hiring Fair at the Starlight Event Center in East El Paso. The event allowed students to network with officials from local hospitals, clinics and places of higher education.
Denise Galvez, the Facilitator at CTE, helped organize the special occasion. She said the hiring fair is meant to be a gift to the students who worked hard to earn their health certifications during high school. Those health certifications are needed for the students to get jobs in their respective field.
“Some of these students started their healthcare journey four years ago and most of these young educators are committed in becoming healthcare professionals someday,” Galvez said. “We are a community that really supports our students, and we want to help open the doors for them to go into the healthcare field and to be in a place where they want to be.”
Some of the students at Wednesday’s event featured high school seniors from the Franklin, Irvin and Jefferson’s P-Tech programs, as well as Silva Health Magnet.
Students received information about volunteering and employment opportunities during the job fair. Participants said they feel prepared to join the workforce.
“I feel very grateful that I planned ahead so that I can start my future right after high school,” said Chapin High School Senior Alexandria Haggerty.
Haggerty studied the Pharmacy Technician program at CCTE. She said the course will prepare her for when she becomes a nurse. “I know a lot of nursing schools don’t go over pharmaceuticals very much, so I wanted to study the program in high school to be familiar with it, and I want to use that knowledge to better serve my patients.”
Guest speakers were also invited to attend the event. Marino Sapien is a Silva Health Magnet graduate from the class of 2004. He now works as a podiatrist in El Paso, Texas. Sapien said the high school program was the steppingstone he needed to get into the healthcare field. “My first job was at Las Palmas where I worked as a certified nursing assistant during my high school year, and I never looked back,” Sapien said. “Speaking in front of these students was really sentimental because it was amazing seeing how much potential we have to provide for the community and these kids could one day help someone in need.”
The graduating seniors completed a TEA recognized health science program while simultaneously earning a healthcare industry based certification.