Seniors enrolled in Papillion La Vista Community Schools' Health Systems Academy were celebrated at a special recognition ceremony held at CHI Health Midlands Hospital, marking the culmination of years of rigorous, career-focused education in the health sciences. The event honored graduates across both academy pathways — Patient Care and Biomedical — as they prepare to transition from high school to careers and post-secondary programs with a significant head start on their professional journeys.

Students in the Patient Care pathway, distinguished by their light blue scrubs, earned their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification during the program and completed clinical rotations working directly alongside healthcare professionals in real medical settings. This hands-on experience ensures graduates are not only credentialed but confident and competent in the patient care environment from day one. Their Biomedical pathway peers, recognizable by their dark turquoise scrubs, developed expertise in collecting and interpreting data using state-of-the-art tools and techniques that mirror those used daily in hospitals and laboratories across the country.

The Health Systems Academy reflects PLCS's deep commitment to career and technical education that connects the classroom to the community. By partnering with CHI Health Midlands Hospital, the district provides students with access to professional-grade facilities, mentorship from working healthcare professionals, and the kind of authentic learning experiences that simply cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom. For these graduates, the career pathway didn't begin at graduation — it began years earlier, inside those scrubs.

Congratulations to the HSA Class of 2026 on this well-earned milestone. The district looks forward to watching these students make their mark in the healthcare field.