Kaplan College Graduate Credits School Family as Well as Hands-on and Service Learning for Paving the Way to a New Career

    CHICAGO, IL, October 15, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Similar to many of Kaplan Higher Education Campuses' more than 3,600 graduates in the third quarter, Lisa Bell had the characteristics of the new traditional college student - financially independent, working a job and juggling other life responsibilities. A "traditional" college campus was not for her. She sought a specific career focus, practical skills and a support network that understood her needs so she could achieve her goal of getting an education that would allow her to start a new career.

In November 2012, Lisa began the Therapeutic Health Technician program, which is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in assisting medical therapeutic professionals, at Kaplan College, Modesto. Her practical side told her she needed to pursue an in-demand field that would give her a wide range of opportunity. The program met her requirements, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that physical therapist aide and occupational therapist aide positions are expected to increase nationwide by 65 percent from 2010 to 2020.

What fueled her passion, though, was that she would be able to help people who are not able to help themselves. She knows this story all too well and to have a career that would allow her to return what was given to her meant everything.

The word "challenge" does not fit in Lisa's vocabulary. She was 15 years old when her mother passed and since then she has let nothing hold her back from success. She attended five different high schools in less than three years, stopping at one point to care for her mom, and went on to try community college. As Lisa persevered, though, she didn't feel 100 percent until she walked into Kaplan College, Modesto.

"I saw the hands-on training and students fully engaged with the instructors and knew I had found my place," Lisa says. "From then moving forward, someone was always there to answer my questions, making time for me, and just as determined as I was to see me succeed."

At times while in school she had a three-hour commute, lived in three different places and worked various jobs. But, she stayed true to her mission and took advantage of the campus' service learning opportunities, too, getting involved in local health fairs, fundraisers and other activities that extended her classroom learning into the community. This, along with the staff's and faculty's belief in her provided stability and, as she says, a family.

"Between the professional skills, my classes and externship, I was ready to be, and am, successful in my field. I don't know how many times I did the mock interview, which is part of the Kaplan Certified Professional program, to make sure I could do it," Lisa continued. "My instructors and the Career Services team knew what local employers look for and it was clear to me everyone at the campus wanted students to achieve, succeed and find jobs."

Lisa became the first person in her family to graduate from college and found a job at a local care home, which she partially credits to the volunteer work she did. And, in her true giving-back ways, her ties to the Modesto campus and success carry on -- she visits often to mentor current students and her sister-in-law is now a student as well.

Lisa's success story is one of many among the more than 3,600 KHEC graduates who earned a degree or diploma during the third quarter of 2013 and either entered a new career or advanced in their current profession. While earning their post-secondary credentials, KHEC students have the opportunity to benefit from hands-on training from industry professionals, local workforce connections and a support system committed to helping them thrive in both their education and their profession.

KHEC's institutions are accredited by one of several national accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

About Kaplan Higher Education Campuses
Kaplan Higher Education Campuses provides career-focused education to more than 16,500 students and helps prepare them to enter the workforce in some of the fastest-growing industries. Its 44 locations in 13 states offer certificates, diplomas and degrees in allied health, business, criminal justice, information technology, legal, nursing and other in-demand fields. KHEC includes Kaplan College, Kaplan Career Institute, Bauder College, TESST College of Technology and Texas School of Business campuses and is owned by Kaplan, Inc. Kaplan, Inc., a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses, is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO) and its largest division. For more information, visit www.kaplan.edu.

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