High School Seniors Complete First Steps on ‘PATH’ to Healthcare Careers
May 20, 2025
Beaufort Memorial's PATH program recognizes first cohort of high school graduates
You have to start somewhere.
That’s the point that Beaufort Memorial Chief Nursing Officer Karen Carroll, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, made at the first-ever, all high school student PATH cohort graduation on May 13.
For 13 high school seniors from four high schools across the county, Beaufort Memorial was that starting place – and with these students’ completion of the program, several of them have accepted positions at Beaufort Memorial right out of high school.
In January, Beaufort Memorial and the Beaufort County School District (BCSD) partnered to offer an opportunity for high school seniors who are enrolled in a Health Sciences completer program to participate in the hospital’s PATH program (People Achieving Their Highest) tuition-free.
Thirteen Beaufort County students graduated at a ceremony in Port Royal on May 13, surrounded by their families, high school principals, health sciences teachers and officials from Beaufort Memorial and BCSD.
Graduating seniors in the program included:
Patient Care Technicians (PCT)
Rihanna Cooler
Alani Crawford
Ja'Miah Fields
Luciana Garcia-Figueroa
Kalia Jenkins
Evelin Leija
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![Rihanna Cooler, PCT]()
Rihanna Cooler, PCT
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![Alani Crawford, PCT]()
Alani Crawford, PCT
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![Ja'Miah Fields, PCT]()
Ja'Miah Fields, PCT
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![Luciana Garcia-Figueroa, PCT]()
Luciana Garcia-Figueroa, PCT
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![Kalia Jenkins, PCT]()
Kalia Jenkins, PCT
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![Evelin Leija, PCT]()
Evelin Leija, PCT
Clinical Medical Assistants (CMA)
Kayla Arias
Jasmyn Charles
Adeline Gibbons
Kayla Jones
Aysha Perez
Jasmyn Reames
Abigail Reynolds
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![Kayla Arias, CMA]()
Kayla Arias, CMA
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![Jasmyn Charles, CMA]()
Jasmyn Charles, CMA
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![Adeline Gibbons, CMA]()
Adeline Gibbons, CMA
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![Kayla Jones, CMA]()
Kayla Jones, CMA
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![Aysha Perez, CMA]()
Aysha Perez, CMA
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![Jasmyn Reames, CMA]()
Jasmyn Reames, CMA
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![Abigail Reynolds, CMA]()
Abigail Reynolds, CMA
Beaufort Memorial president and CEO Russell Baxley addressed students and their families, thanking parents for allowing their teens to take part in the program.
“I hope, whether you are here for the summer and going on to school or whether you’re ready to start your career in healthcare, you trust Beaufort Memorial and serve your community,” Baxley said. “I can’t think of anything more special. This community is special, this hospital is special, and this school district is special.”
Dr. Frank Rodriguez, Beaufort County School District Superintendent, emphasized the impact of innovative partnerships between the school district and community organizations like Beaufort Memorial.
“When organizations come together to innovate, you can create some really great opportunities, and I think for our students in Beaufort County Schools, this is an innovation that will yield tremendous results – not only for the community, the hospital and the school district, but most importantly, for you, the graduates,” he said, addressing the 13 teens.
At the ceremony, students with perfect attendance were recognized, as well as the five students who have accepted positions at Beaufort Memorial and will be joining the staff following their high school graduations. Alani Crawford, a senior at Whale Branch Early College High School who also was recognized for the highest academic achievement in the cohort, will be joining Beaufort Memorial as a patient care technician working on the hospital’s third floor.
“I’m very excited, and I’m proud of myself,” Crawford said. “I worked really hard this semester, and I’ve learned a lot and I’m getting rewarded for it.”
For these five students, Beaufort Memorial will be an integral part of their career journey right out of high school. Other students, like Bluffton High School senior Aysha Perez, are planning to attend college and pursue that pathway to a career in the medical field. Perez said she hopes to become a doctor.
“It feels really good,” the Bluffton senior said. “This means a lot to me; it gives me an opportunity to go to college, be able to find a job and work in the medical field.”
For all 13 students, however, their first steps toward careers in healthcare involved Beaufort Memorial and the PATH program.
Carroll said that no matter the students’ next steps, Beaufort Memorial was honored to be a part of their journey.
“The only person who can stop you from achieving your goals is you. You can be a great asset to this organization, to wherever you go to school,” she told the graduates. “We are happy to help you on your journey and give you that starting point.”