Featured Photo: Class of 2026 Healthcare Fellows stand with representatives of Henderson County Public Schools, Blue Ridge Community College, UNC Health Pardee, and AdventHealth Hendersonville. (Photo by: Benjamin Rickert.)
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This release is also available on the Henderson County Public Schools website.
Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS), in partnership with Blue Ridge Community College, AdventHealth Hendersonville, UNC Health Pardee, and the Henderson County Education Foundation, celebrated the Class of 2026 Healthcare Fellows on Monday during the program’s second annual Signing Day event at Blue Ridge Community College.
Building on the success of its inaugural year, the Healthcare Fellows Program is expanding its impact, with 11 recent HCPS graduates selected to participate this year—up from nine Fellows in the program’s first class.
Each Healthcare Fellow will receive full financial support for their studies at Blue Ridge Community College, including tuition, books, and required gear, sponsored by AdventHealth Hendersonville or UNC Health Pardee. Upon successful completion of their program, each Fellow is guaranteed employment with their sponsoring healthcare organization.
“Seeing this program grow in just its second year speaks to what is possible when our schools and community partners share a commitment to the future of our students,” said Mark R. Garrett, Superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools. “These 11 graduates are beginning a pathway that gives them the education, support, and experience they need to build meaningful careers right here in Henderson County. We are incredibly proud of them, and grateful to our partners for investing not only in these students, but in the future of healthcare in our community.”
The Signing Day recognized the 11 Fellows as they took the next step toward rewarding, high-demand healthcare careers and highlighted the continued collaboration among local education, healthcare, and community partners to create supported career pathways for Henderson County students.
The Healthcare Fellows include:
- Leslie Arzate-Castillo (North Henderson HS) – UNC Health Pardee
- Emily Coren (Hendersonville HS) – AdventHealth
- Taylor Currin (West Henderson HS) – UNC Health Pardee
- Melanie Dowers (West Henderson HS) – AdventHealth
- Robin Gomez-Contreras (North Henderson HS) – UNC Health Pardee
- Caroline Jackson (West Henderson HS) – AdventHealth
- Giselle Guerrero-Corona (North Henderson HS) – UNC Health Pardee
- Miranda Lopez (North Henderson HS) – AdventHealth
- Genesis Hernandez-Lopez (Hendersonville HS) – UNC Health Pardee
- Kadence Moore (East Henderson HS) – AdventHealth
- Ryah McDonald (East Henderson HS) – UNC Health Pardee
At the Signing Day event, each Fellow was recognized individually and received a gift from their sponsoring healthcare organization, along with Blue Ridge Community College gear and mementos from HCPS to commemorate the occasion. Family members, friends, school staff, and community partners gathered to celebrate the students as they officially began their journeys as Healthcare Fellows. The event reflected the strong network of support surrounding the Class of 2026 and the community-wide commitment to helping these students build successful careers in healthcare.
“We are excited to welcome the second cohort of Healthcare Fellows as they graduate from Henderson County Public Schools and continue their journey at Blue Ridge Community College,” said Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood. “With the support of UNC Health Pardee and AdventHealth Hendersonville, these students have a clear pathway into healthcare careers close to home. Together, our institutions and healthcare partners are investing in these students and entrusting them with the future health and well-being of our community.”
“These students have made an incredible and courageous decision to pursue a future in health care, and we couldn’t be more inspired by their commitment,” said Dr. John Bryant, Vice President, Operations and Support Services, UNC Health Pardee. “At Pardee, we’re honored to support their journey—not just financially, but as mentors, role models, and future colleagues. We look forward to walking beside them as they grow into compassionate, skilled professionals who will serve and strengthen this very community.”
“These Healthcare Fellows are choosing a path that will allow them to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people right here in our community,” said Abby Gutch, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN, Chief Nursing Officer for AdventHealth Hendersonville. “At AdventHealth, we are honored to support them as they learn, grow and discover the kind of caregivers they want to become. As a faith-based health care organization, we believe caring for others is deeply personal and purposeful, and we look forward to welcoming these Fellows as future colleagues who will bring compassion, skill and hope to the people they care for.”
Created through a strategic collaboration among HCPS, Blue Ridge Community College, AdventHealth Hendersonville, and UNC Health Pardee, the Healthcare Fellows Program is designed to remove financial barriers, provide mentorship and hands-on experience, and retain talented healthcare professionals in the region. Fellows complete dual-enrollment coursework while receiving support from both academic and clinical mentors.
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