LAKEPORT, Calif. – Recently, the Lake County Office of Education, or LCOE, successfully graduated its first Youth Summer Certified Nursing Assistant Cohort — but where are they today? 

LCOE is proud to share the continued success of students who participated in its first Youth Program.

The program’s first cohort included high school students from across Lake County.

“Lake County students are the future leaders of our county, state and county. This program gives students the opportunity to explore a career in the medical field and develop real-world skills before they graduate,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg. “By preparing them for the workforce while they’re still in high school, we’re helping students take confident steps toward their future.” 

Three months after completion, many of the program’s alumni have gone on to pursue college degrees in nursing or health-related fields, while others have entered the local workforce serving residents across Lake County’s skilled nursing facilities.

Nine of the 14 youth work or are onboarding at local care homes, including Meadowood Nursing Center, Rocky Point Care Center and Lakeport Post Acute.

Students are earning between $22 and $25 per hour, gaining valuable real-world experience in patient care while continuing their education. Other participants are still in high school and already working part time in skilled nursing facilities. 

“Balancing academics, part-time work, and patient care responsibilities is no small feat, and these students continue to demonstrate remarkable commitment, maturity, and compassion,” said Christian Villalobos, LCOE’s grant coordinator for career and college readiness.

Several other participants are full-time college students in nursing pathways. Alumni like Maliyna Aguilar (Chico State University) and Ire Rivera (Pacific Union College) have transitioned seamlessly into higher education, applying their CNA training toward future medical programs.

“The LCOE Youth Summer CNA program has helped me in my educational journey at PUC by providing me with so much more confidence in my nursing skills and abilities than many of my classmates possess,” said Ire Rivera, now pursuing pre-nursing at Pacific Union College. “Attending clinicals feels easier for me because of the hands-on experience I gained at Rocky Point Care Center. Ultimately, my experience in the Youth Summer CNA program has greatly impacted my educational journey.”

For those already working in the field, the program has been equally transformative.

“Working at a local skilled nursing facility is a beautiful experience and a feeling of accomplishment knowing that I’m making a difference in residents’ lives,” said Nataly Torres, a senior at Lower Lake High School. “I enjoy creating bonds with my residents and knowing they feel supported and cared for correctly.”

The LCOE Youth Summer CNA Program was made possible through collaboration with local skilled nursing facilities and Lake County high schools, with funding support from Empowered Aging and the Healthcare Career Pathway program.

“From my time as a Paramedic through teaching Health Careers classes to my current role, it has always been my hope to offer an opportunity like this to high school students. Being a part of this high school CNA program was an incredible experience. Our teachers and support staff did a wonderful job preparing these young students for success as CNAs and have prepared them for success in their future medical careers as well. I had the opportunity to observe the students both in the classroom and at the clinical site. Their dedication to learning and their professionalism while caregiving was always apparent and shows what Lake County students are capable of doing. We are excited to be able to offer this program again in the summer of 2026, and hope to be able to continue to offer it in the future,” said Matt Russell, director of Adult Education & Career & College Readiness.

The Lake County Office of Education is currently in the process of recruiting its second cohort. To learn more about our Medical Training Programs, visit lakecoe.org/MTP.