CASTLETON, N.D. — When you stop by your local pharmacy to pick up a prescription, there's a good chance you'll be served by a trained pharmacist.
At Central Cass High School, recent graduates and students completing their senior year of high school will join the first class of pharmacy technicians who have taken classes throughout the year.
“I'm studying neuroscience with a pre-med track,” said Alexandria Reid, a Central Cass High School graduate.
The students were trained and certified in a new program at Central Cass. Graduates of the program are already working at a pharmacy in Fargo this summer before moving on to college. Most of them hope to go into the medical field. The Central Cass program has been featured at national conferences and could become a signature project for other schools and cities to adopt.
“I want to go into radiology in Nebraska and a lot of those programs are pretty hard to get into, but having a medical background is really valued and desired, so having that on your resume would definitely get you into a lot more programs,” said Sydney Sherman, a Central Cass High School graduate.
Central Cass High School students Kiera Parker and Olivia Ellenson were there with two others on Friday to talk about the program that just concluded.
Nine students graduated from the pharmacy technician program this year, with nine more enrolling next year. Essentia Health Pharmacy launched the program in partnership with Central Cass High School and others in response to an urgent need across the region.
Central Cass health science teacher Ellie Guy worked with her students every day.
“We've had calls from Jamestown, Wahpeton and many other places that are interested in where our students are going to college next year, even if it's not their first choice, they want to talk to students,” said Maari Roy, Essentia Pharmacy Director.
Lori Crandall, pharmacy technician program supervisor, said the class focuses on the pharmacy technician career and the important role it plays in our community.
Students at Central Cass High School were not taking online classes and instead attended school early each day, five days a week, in addition to other classes and activities.
“What these kids have done is just amazing,” said Central Cass Principal Nikki Wixo. “From a high school student's perspective, they have earned college credits, they have taken rigorous college classes while playing high school sports, they have practiced every night from 4 to 8 p.m. and then they come home and take classes, even during the Christmas holidays when everyone else is home.”
