Posted by Centura College on Mar 6, 2019 in Adult Education, Campus Connections, Centura Chesapeake, Centura College, Community Connections, Lifestyle
Written by: Zakkiyya Anderson
A fitting event for March 4th, the Centura College Chesapeake campus welcomed guests to their March Into Your Vision, Vision Board Workshop for an evening of networking, goal setting and fun!
The workshop started off with visitors grabbing snacks and getting to know their neighbors before the fun started. Then, the night kicked off with a Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament that got everyone energized and ready.
The event brought out a diverse group of individuals from, entrepreneurs to career coaches to realtors. While working on their vision boards, guests were guided through ten steps to success that included tips and tricks on how to effectively network, proper interviewing techniques, and how to master your career search. Guests even learned a quick way to always be prepared for the often dreaded, elevator speech.
As the night went on the guests shared their goals for 2019 and beyond, but took it a step further by talking about how they were going to achieve those goals. Stories were shared about how some of the guests had to overcome obstacles on their path to success, and everyone in the room encouraged them to keep pushing!
Everyone who came left with more than just a poster board full of cutouts; they all took away useful tools to push them further toward their goals — and even a few new friends!
About Centura College
Centura College has been part of an organization dedicated to helping men and women develop careers since 1969. By training working adults in healthcare, technology, business, and trades, they connect communities with some of the fastest growing career fields in today’s marketplace. The school offers professional facilities, knowledgeable instructors, day or evening classes, job placement assistance and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). To learn more, visit www.CenturaCollege.edu or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/centura.edu
Posted by Centura College on Nov 28, 2018 in Adult Education, Career Change, Centura College, Centura Norfolk, Health Information Technology
Written by Simone Francis
Have you been contemplating following your dream of working in the medical field? However, your age, the cost of medical school, the years it will take to complete the degree, along with residency and training causes you to reconsider? Luckily, the healthcare industry is one that career changers can pursue easily. This is possible due to the wide range of careers within this industry.
Many people consider going back to school as a way to develop specific knowledge that they will use to pursue a new career. Others want to gain skills that will result in them making more money. According to the National Center for Education, “more and more adults are returning to school. It seems like once parents send their children off to school, they start investigating what going back to school may mean for them as well.”
One career taking the healthcare Industry by storm is Health Information Technology (HIT). Health Information Technicians are also knows as medical coders or medical billers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations”.
Health Information Technology (HIT) is a great way for someone, at any point of their career, to enter the health care field because it typically does not require more than a two-year degree. As a Health Information Technician, you will work with computer software systems to analyze patient information to determine various ways of improving patient care or controlling costs for both the patient and facility.
Instructor Afyia Richards at Centura College Virginia Beach states, “This is the perfect career for all ages interested in working in the healthcare industry on the informational and technological side of the field.” Within this career, individuals will not work directly with patients in the way a doctor or nurse would do, but rather they play a vital role in keeping hospitals and clinics running. Ms. Richards states, “We play a great role in saving lives”.
Ms. Richards held a variety of positions in the healthcare field over the last 10 years, including auditor and medical coder. Working in this industry did not limit her to just working in hospital settings; she has worked in many organizations that use health information, such as insurance firms, pharmaceutical companies and law offices. Ms. Richards explained this is a great career opportunity for individuals looking to work from home. Health Information Technicians also have the ability to determine their own salary.
Centura College in Virginia Beach strives to assist individuals in starting careers instead of jobs. With the buzz around this career field, Centura College decided to offer the HIT program. Once students have completed this program, they will take the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) certification, which allows them to become more marketable in the field. Centura College is the only college in Hampton Roads that offers the certification included in the tuition, as well as AHIMA curriculum.
Mrs. Richards states, “I am definitely glad I made the decision to purse this career. The field has grown by leaps and bounds and it won’t be slowing down any time soon. This is my retirement plan.” So don’t let your dreams fade away, still thinking about going back to school, then Health information Technology may be right for you.
Posted by Centura College on Oct 12, 2018 in Adult Education, Bachelor Degree Completion Program, Centura Virginia Beach, Spotlight Feature
By Cheryl Landreth, CVAB
After working in the financial services industry for many years, Tracy Peloquin found herself suddenly out of a job and relocated to a state that didn’t offer the types of financial career options she had in her previous home state. Tracy had often worked in food service and as a temporary employee in the past and once again found herself back into those types of jobs.
“When I reached my 50th birthday, I took a look at where I was in my life, what I had started and what I had not accomplished,” Peloquin stated. “Each day on my way to yet another temporary job, I passed by Centura College. I saw students outside and often wished I was one of them.”
In 2016 Tracy found herself laid off again and decided enough was enough. She went to Opportunity Inc. to see what options would be available to a middle-aged woman who had been displaced from her previous career. To her surprise and joy, there was a grant available to help with the cost of college. Her next stop was Centura College.
For the next year and a half, Tracy worked full time and attended school full time. Reflecting on that time, Tracy stated, “I really wanted to do my best at both. Whenever you would see me, I would either have a book in my hand or I would be working on homework.” Many late nights later, Tracy graduated summa cum laude with a 3.85 grade point average and a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Concentration in Management degree. Tracy exclaimed, “I felt so accomplished!”
Tracy knows this is only the first important step in achieving her dream to someday run her own business of helping low-income seniors with housing. She is currently working at Canon and advancing in her career. Her next step is to enroll in a Master’s program pursuing additional business and human resource training.
Moving forward on her journey, Tracy states “Had I never made that stop to Centura College, where I felt a peace as soon as I walked through the door, I would not have a plan for my future. I know where I am heading with my life and I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend Centura College. The instructors were great and offered additional assistance whenever I needed it. They taught me so much more than just the book material. I was able to gain practical application experience which helped me to fully understand the purpose of what was being taught.”
Posted by Centura College on Oct 11, 2018 in Adult Education, Campus Connections, Career Change, Career Services, Centura College, Centura Richmond, Community Connections, Spotlight Feature
Centura Richmond Campus Executive Director, Rob Jones and Sarah Irby.
Centura College Richmond is passionate about the work at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Children’s Hospital. VCU Children’s Hospital is Central Virginia’s only comprehensive, full-service hospital devoted to the care of children. It’s ranked among the nation’s top children’s hospital by U.S. News and World Report and is Virginia’s only Level 1 pediatric trauma center.
Last year, the Richmond campus collected over 75 children’s books for the many kids undergoing care at the facility. This year we decided give back to the young patients again, by collecting everyday school supplies. Our students and faculty rose to the challenge presented and we outdid our donations from the previous year!
Student Services Representative Kelvin Lee and Sarah Irby.
With so many school supply drives, the children are unfortunately unable to attend those types of events due to the efforts concentrated on their recovery. Student Services Representative Kelvin Lee and Campus Executive Director Rob Jones decided to visit the Children’s Hospital to present Ms. Sarah Irby (Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator) our donations. With the incredible job this hospital performs on a daily basis we truly look forward to partnering together with Ms. Irby for future events. This was a great way to kick off the new school year by providing much needed school supplies to the hospital’s young patients.
About Centura College
Centura College has been part of an organization dedicated to helping men and women develop careers since 1969. By training working adults in healthcare, technology, business, and skilled trades, they connect communities with some of the fastest growing career fields in today’s marketplace. The school offers professional facilities, knowledgeable instructors, day or evening classes, job placement assistance and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). To learn more, visit www.CenturaCollege.edu or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/centura.edu.
Posted by Centura College on Aug 31, 2018 in Adult Education, Campus Connections, Centura Norfolk, Lifestyle, Medical Assisting, Spotlight Feature
By Otis Grate BS, MBA, CCMA
Centura College’s Norfolk campus continues to build strong, productive, and meaningful relationships with our surrounding communities. It is not out of the ordinary for the Norfolk campus to direct its attention towards providing citizens of the community with various types of services. Often, these services will vary, but proven to be valuable for many community members. With active teaching a priority throughout the campus, Centura Norfolk utilizes opportunities such as regularly scheduled visits to the Salvation Army’s KROC Center to build student’s confidence and knowledge base.
For the last year, students from Centura Norfolk’s medical assisting program have been venturing out to the Salvation Army’s KROC Center to provide their senior community patrons with an opportunity to receive basic health screenings. These screenings readily include: blood pressure readings, temperature and pulse, respiration, and glucose readings. Although these assessments are often viewed as basic, the interaction with patrons provides students the opportunity to utilize their skill sets in the real world, while providing the seniors in the community a great service; a service that many of these seniors may not be able to afford on their own.
Mrs. Kim Foulkes leads the charge with this event, equipping her students with the tools they need to be efficient and effective. Ensuring each student maintains courtesy and professionalism while providing the highest level of quality care for each patron they assess. The Salvation Army has been truly appreciative as well as resourceful in regards to assisting Centura Norfolk with building stronger bonds with our communities. Centura Norfolk is proud to be a part of this effort and will continue to find ways to “Connect Communities and Careers”.
About Centura College
Centura College has been part of an organization dedicated to helping men and women develop careers since 1969. By training working adults in healthcare, technology, business, and skilled trades, they connect communities with some of the fastest growing career fields in today’s marketplace. The school offers professional facilities, knowledgeable instructors, day or evening classes, job placement assistance and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). To learn more, visit www.CenturaCollege.edu or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/centura.edu.
As the night went on the guests shared their goals for 2019 and beyond, but took it a step further by talking about how they were going to achieve those goals. Stories were shared about how some of the guests had to overcome obstacles on their path to success, and everyone in the room encouraged them to keep pushing!
