Dobson, NC – May 15, 2025 – The first youth apprentice program for registered nurses in North Carolina continues to thrive, culminating in another successful year. Twenty-three local students were recognized at this year’s Apprenticeship and Career Signing Event on Thursday, May 15, at the Shelton-Badgett NC Viticulture & Enology Center – Grand Hall at Surry Community College.
Fifteen students committed to apprenticeships at Northern Regional Hospital (NRH) in Mount Airy (Eight students committed to working part-time over the summer, while seven students committed to full apprenticeships), and eight students graduated from the program, earning their journey worker certificates.
Dr. David Shockley, President of Surry Community College, member of the Surry-Yadkin Works Executive Board, and member of the Northern Regional Hospital Board, opened the event by praising the Nursing Program at Surry Community College and the successful partnership with Surry Yadkin-Works and Northern Regional Hospital.
“Our partnership with Surry Community College and Surry-Yadkin Works is truly a win-win for everyone,” said Joy Gilman, Senior Director of Nursing and Women’s Health Services at Northern Regional Hospital. “It creates opportunities for students to excel and learn in a real-world healthcare environment while benefiting our hospital by allowing them to contribute to patient care. As you move forward, I encourage you to remember your ‘why’, why you chose healthcare, and let it guide your purpose, passion, and initiative in everything you do.”
“We know this program will continue to thrive because of the strong collaboration between our hospital, Surry-Yadkin Works, Surry Community College, and the many mentors, educators, and families supporting these students,” said Allison Bedsaul, Director of Nursing Education at Northern Regional Hospital. “Learning isn’t just a destination, it’s a journey. These students are beginning a path that leads to college, careers, and a future of service. Let their perseverance and motivation inspire us all. Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.”
“It is so exciting to celebrate that this many youth and adults in our community are committing to work, learn, and grow through this program at Northern Regional Hospital and Surry Community College,” said Crystal Folger-Hawks, Executive Director of Surry-Yadkin Works. “We are very thankful that Surry-Yadkin Works is the avenue that allows local talent to find a good fit at a great company and serve our community. It is a win-win for the business and students, and I am proud to be a part of this endeavor.”
For those interested in the Apprenticeships at Northern Regional Hospital, we invite you to visit choosenorthern.org/careers or email hrhelp@wearenorthern.org for more information.
Students recognized in 2025 include:
Northern Regional Hospital PRN Employees:
- Payton Atkins
- Savannah Bohr
- Chase Butcher
- Lydia Childers
- Abigail Epperson
- Saylor Jennings
- Chloe Johnson
- Madison Moorefield
Northern Regional Hospital Apprentices:
- Mattie Bare
- Taylor Bullington
- Zoe Draughn
- Dayanna Flores Armenta
- Priscilla Gentry
- Breanna Nelson
- Elisa Yount
Northern Regional Hospital Graduating Apprentices (Journey Worker Certificate Recipients):
- Sidney Castillo
- Natalee Frazier
- Dylan Flippin
- Hannah Hall
- Gisell Hernandez Aguilera
- Brianna Key
- Emily Santiago Orellana
- Isabella Seal
About Northern Regional Hospital
Northern Regional Hospital (NRH) is a 133-bed hospital in Mount Airy, North Carolina, serving the northwest Piedmont region of NC and neighboring counties in southwestern Virginia. Founded in 1957, NRH is an independently operated, national award-winning healthcare facility. Northern Medical Group is the Hospital’s physician network of primary and specialty care providers, delivering a wide range of services to meet the community’s needs. NRH offers an array of outpatient services, including laboratory testing, X-ray services, CT, MRI, ultrasound, 3D mammography, and physical rehabilitation services. NRH also has a state-of-the-art Surgery Center providing a wide range of inpatient and outpatient procedures, including orthopedics, gynecology, gastroenterology, urological, eye surgeries, and other general surgeries to meet our community’s and region’s surgical needs.
Surry-Yadkin Works
The mission of Surry-Yadkin Works is to support the economic vitality of the region by matching interns with business partners to meet the needs of the community. Elkin City Schools, Mount Airy City Schools, Surry County Schools, and Yadkin County Schools along with Surry Community College will prepare students for work-based learning, assist with industry-recognized credentials, and aid in enrolling in career and technical college courses. In addition, we will provide mutually beneficial links between students and employers with the goal of increasing skilled workers in our community.
