SALISBURY, N.C. – Rowan-Cabarrus Community College continues to strengthen workforce development partnerships through opportunities that connect students with industry leaders and emerging career pathways. Five students were recently honored at the North Carolina Healthcare Engineers Association (NCHEA) Conference Scholars Awards and Lunch held at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem in August. Each student received a $2,500 scholarship for their achievement, professionalism, and interest in healthcare engineering, an emerging field that combines technical innovation with essential hospital operations.
The North Carolina Healthcare Engineers Association is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to education, advocacy and professional development within the state’s healthcare engineering community. Each year, NCHEA awards scholarships to students from a selected community college to encourage participation in the healthcare engineering field.
“Partnerships like this create meaningful pathways for students to explore new career fields and gain hands-on connections with industry professionals,” said Rowan-Cabarrus President Dr. Carol S. Spalding. “These scholarships represent more than financial support. They reflect a shared commitment to preparing students for rewarding and sustainable careers.”
This year’s student recipients included:
- Juan Calleja, Electrical Systems Technology
- Luis Diaz, Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
- Carlos Medlin, Electronics Engineering Technology
- Pablo Ortiz, Electrical Systems Technology
- Eduardo Otero, Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
The NCHEA Community College Scholarship Program aims to increase awareness of career opportunities in healthcare engineering, which encompasses the design, maintenance and operation of hospital mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. This year marked Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s first year participating in the program.
“On behalf of the entire NCHEA community, we were so impressed with the student scholars from Rowan-Cabarrus this year,” said Associate Vice President and Regional Market Segment Leader at Dewberry and NCHEA representative Alex Harwell. “Working with the Rowan-Cabarrus team was a pleasure, and we look forward to maintaining this relationship to the benefit of the students and their future careers, hopefully in healthcare engineering.”
In addition to the awards ceremony, students had the opportunity to network with industry leaders and potential employers, learning more about the wide range of careers available in healthcare engineering. Faculty and staff from Rowan-Cabarrus joined students for the event, which included educational sessions, a vendor showcase, and a luncheon honoring scholarship recipients.
Rowan-Cabarrus Interim Director of Advancement Connie Rheinecker stated the partnership reinforces the College’s commitment to connecting students with emerging industries. “This opportunity opened doors for our students to learn about a growing field that blends engineering, healthcare and technology,” she said. “We are grateful to NCHEA for investing in our students and helping them see how their skills and education can make a real difference in the healthcare industry.”