Grow Our Own Graduation

On Wednesday evening, May 6, we celebrated the 2025/2026 Grow Our Own Graduates. 

Growth always begins somewhere: with curiosity. 

These graduates began this journey by asking a question—What more is possible for me? 
Some were inspired by personal experiences as patients or family members. Others watched healthcare in action and felt called to be part of it. And some discovered, through roles at Carilion, that they wanted to do more, to give more, to become more. 

Whatever brought them here, it started with curiosity—and it required courage. 

Because stepping into something new is never easy. It asks us to leave what is familiar. It asks us to risk discomfort, uncertainty, even self-doubt. Most people resist that moment. But growth lives on the other side of it. 

And they chose to move forward anyway. Not just in skill, but in purpose. Not just in knowledge, but in character. 

We hope this is not the end of that journey, but a continuation of it—that each day they continue to become a little more than they were the day before. More confident. More grounded. More compassionate. More ready to make an impact. 

Because at the end of the day, this is what unites us: a shared commitment to use our skills to improve the lives of others. 

Congratulations graduates on this achievement—and on choosing to grow. Thank you for all that you’ve done and all that you will do. We look forward to seeing how your commitment will make a difference.

Programs: 

• Medical Assistant – Certified, which launched in October 2024, had 22 graduates for the 25/26 year. 
• Limited Radiologic Technician, which launched in June 2024, had 5 graduates for the 25/26 year. 
• Pharmacy Technician in Training, which launched in January 2022, had 25 graduates for the 25/26 year.
• EMT, which launched in January 2023, had 6 for the 25/26 year.
• Paramedic, which launched in January 2022, had 3 graduates for the 25/26 year.
• Licensed Social Work (MSW & LCSW), which launched in 2024, had 3 graduates for the 25/26 year.
• Earn to Learn (ETL) Extern, which launched in the spring of 2025, had 23 graduates for the 25/26 year.
• Flex SOAR, which launched in 2020, had 25 graduates for the 25/26 year.

I’d also like to thank the leaders and instructors for all of your hard work as well as the volunteers who helped with the ceremony.