Ignite CAPS - Jackson R2

𝙅𝙃𝙎: 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮, 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙

Huge congratulations are in order! Yesterday, a few of our Year 2 Ignite CAPS students officially signed their apprenticeship and internship agreements with our incredible industry partners. ✍️

While most students are just beginning to think about their "someday" careers, these innovators are already living them. By moving beyond the four walls of a classroom, they are gaining the real-world experience that puts them years ahead of the curve. Once they complete the apprenticeship, they will earn a certificate from the Dept. of Labor.

Help us celebrate these incredible milestones:

🍎 Veronica Hendrix + Jackson R-2 School District
A future educator through and through! After finding her calling in Special Education through Ignite CAPS, Veronica will begin working as a Paraprofessional in Early Childhood this August. She’s already planning her next steps at SEMO in the Para-to-Educator pathway.

🎀 Delaynie Trankler + Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization
Like peanut butter and jelly, this was a match made in heaven! After a successful 10-week internship managing social media and launching projects like the Uptown Passport, Delaynie starts as a Marketing Consultant Apprentice this June. She’s already set on the future, planning to continue her marketing journey at SEMO after graduation!

🏦 Briley Hollis + MRV Banks
Briley’s micro-internship at MRV Banks opened her eyes to the incredible culture and diversity of the financial world. She has signed on for a year-long paid internship to continue exploring the many career paths within banking.

🏠 Jax Pope + Think Team Dillick
Jax is highly motivated and ready to network! He has officially signed an apprenticeship commitment starting this August with Think Team Dillick. Chelsea Dillick has been a fantastic supporter of the program as a guest speaker and internship host, and now Jax will be diving deep into the world of real estate under her mentorship while completing his coursework and preparing for his license exam in April!

🤝 To Our Industry Partners:

Thank you for investing in the next generation of leaders. By opening your doors, you are fueling a talent pipeline that will drive our community forward for years to come.

Is your business ready to host an intern or apprentice? Join the mission and help shape the next generation of professionals!

📧 Reach out to Ashley Raney: [email protected]

Join us in the comments to congratulate our Year 2 students as they take this massive step toward their futures! 👇

🩺 Meet Our New Ignite CAPS Medical Instructor for the 2026-2027 school year! 🩺

We are beyond excited to welcome Dr. Kelsey Spain to the Ignite CAPS team! Dr. Spain will be leading both our morning and afternoon medical sessions hosted at Saint Francis, where she’ll be guiding associates through career exploration in healthcare and industry-specific skills.

Dr. Spain isn't just bringing her biology expertise; she’ll also be collaborating with SEMO professors on a Health Perspectives class and co-teaching with Ashley Raney to help our students master those essential professional skills that set them apart in the workforce.

Dr. Spain joins us at a truly historic moment for our program. Thanks to the incredible support of our community and the enthusiasm of our students, Ignite CAPS has officially doubled in size after just its first year! This rapid growth is a testament to the power of hands-on, profession-based learning. By expanding our team with a beloved educator like Dr. Spain, we are able to provide even more students with high-impact opportunities to jumpstart their careers before they even graduate high school.

Dr. Spain is a powerhouse of education with deep local roots:

B.S. Secondary Ed – SEMO (’11)

Master of Biology – SEMO (’13)

Doctor of Education – MIZZOU (’21)

A proud 2007 graduate of JHS, she’s been teaching for 13 years, spending the last 7 years giving back to her alma mater. ❤️🖤

When she isn't in the classroom, Dr. Spain is likely on an adventure! She and her husband, Jayson, are parents to two boys (ages 8 and 1). Together, they are on a mission to see the whole country.

Current Progress: 26 states and counting!

Favorite Activity: Exploring America’s National Parks.

Join us in giving a warm Ignite welcome to Dr. Spain! 🔥 We can't wait to see the impact she makes on our future healthcare professionals.

We are continuing the celebration for our seniors! 🎉

We are incredibly proud of every single one of our Ignite CAPS graduates. Whether they are heading off on major scholarships, continuing their athletic dreams at the next level, or spreading their wings to experience a brand-new city, we are cheering for you!

However, today we want to give a special shout-out to the associates choosing to stay right here in the 573 to attend Southeast Missouri State University! By staying local, these students are choosing to invest in the community that invested in them.

From the classroom to the workforce, here’s why this is a win for everyone:

🏆 Top 10 Status: Voted one of USA Today’s Top 10 Best Small College Towns, Cape Girardeau offers the perfect mix of big-city opportunity and small-town heart. SEMO isn't just a hometown favorite—it’s a national standout!

👏🏻 Head Start: Thanks to the Ignite CAPS program, these associates are entering college with earned credit hours, established relationships with professors, and a level of comfort on campus that makes the transition seamless.

🎓 Versatility: With a massive variety of degree paths, students can find their passion without ever having to pack a U-Haul.

… and they get to continue with the ❤️🖤!

Why "Staying Local" Matters

When our talented Ignite graduates stay in the region, the impact ripples through our entire community:

📈 Economic Fuel: Local students support local businesses, keeping our economy vibrant and growing.

🤝 Workforce Development: We are building a "homegrown" workforce. These students are already immersed in our local business culture through their CAPS projects and internships.

💪🏻 The Talent Pipeline: By keeping bright minds here, we ensure that our local industries—from healthcare to business to education—have a direct line to highly skilled, motivated graduates who already know and love this area.

Congratulations to all our graduates! Whether you’re staying in the 573 or heading across the map, we know you’ll make us proud. ❤️🖤

What a way to wrap up the year. Our final two Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) groups knocked it out of the park today, tackling two major pillars of healthcare:

Patient Access: Streamlining the journey from scheduling the first appointment to the point of care.

Operating Room Efficiency: Proposing data-driven ways to optimize surgical flow and resource management.

The level of professionalism in the room was impressive. By diving into the data, these students didn't just present research—they offered actionable suggestions that could actually improve patient outcomes and hospital operations.

Beyond the numbers, these projects give them a much deeper understanding of how the healthcare field functions as a whole. They’re walking out of this classroom far more knowledgeable and prepared as they begin the journey toward their own careers.

Every group did a phenomenal job this year. We couldn't be prouder of the critical thinkers and future leaders leaving this cohort. 👏

Today was a huge milestone for our Ignite CAPS associates!

They officially kicked off their Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) presentations, and honestly, the level of professionalism was off the charts. It’s one thing to do the research, but these students stood in front of a room of seasoned healthcare professionals and delivered their findings with confidence.

They’ve spent weeks diving into EBP training, and today they shared their interventions on some of the biggest issues we face:

❤️ Colleague Retention: How we keep our teams energized and supported.

🏥 Autism in the Emergency Department: Navigating neurodivergent care in high-pressure environments.

💪🏻 Workplace Violence: Practical, real-world solutions for staff and patient safety.

What was most impressive wasn't just the data—it was their growth. We saw students who have learned to pivot, think on their feet, and use the kind of "C-suite language" that leadership really listens to. They didn't just talk about the problems; they pitched the solutions.

Huge congrats to the first groups who presented today! You’ve set the bar high for the rest of the week. Two more groups are up tomorrow… let’s keep that momentum going!

This week for , we are shining a spotlight on Ava Forrest and her incredible journey through the Ignite CAPS program! 🎓

Ava’s experience is a perfect example of what happens when passion meets opportunity. Through her time spent with the team at Saint Francis Healthcare System, Ava didn't just gain experience—she found her path.

Success stories like Ava’s aren't possible without our amazing community partners. A huge thank you to Saint Francis for investing your time, expertise, and heart into our associates.

We are so proud of you, Ava! We can't wait to see where this passion takes you. 🩺✨

We are incredibly grateful for our Ignite CAPS partners, whose dedication as mentors and internship hosts provides the real-world foundation our associates need to thrive. Your commitment to shaping the next generation of professionals is making a profound impact on their career journeys, and we couldn't do this without your support! ❤️🖤

We had the incredible honor of hosting Megan Goncher at Ignite CAPS, and inspired feels like an understatement. Megan shared her powerful journey navigating life as a deaf individual, the reality of survival, and her experience with a cochlear implant.

Her message wasn't just about overcoming obstacles; it was about the art of the pivot. 🔄

Key Takeaways from Megan:

Resiliency is a Muscle: It’s built through the challenges we face, not the ones we avoid.

The Power of Perspective: Choosing a positive lens transforms a "roadblock" into a redirection.

The Ultimate Mindset Shift: Megan reminded us that “Things don’t happen to you. They happen for you.” We are so grateful to Megan for teaching us that our greatest challenges often prepare us for our greatest opportunities.

Thank you for leaving us with a renewed sense of purpose and the tools to keep moving forward, no matter the volume of the world around us. 🤟🔥