Victoria College has been awarded two major grants totaling $347,500 to support students enrolled in its Vocational Nursing (VN) program. The funding will help reduce financial barriers, expand hands-on training, and connect students with job opportunities.
“These grants represent a transformative opportunity for our Vocational Nursing students,” said Dr. Jennifer Kent, Victoria College President. “By turning clinical training into paid internships, we’re not only easing financial burdens, but also preparing our students for real-world success. This investment in hands-on experience directly supports our mission to build a skilled, confident workforce ready to meet the healthcare needs of our region.”
The $100,000 Healthcare Internship Initiative Fund (HIIF) grant, funded by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), uses Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) statewide funds allocated to the Golden Crescent Workforce Development Board (GCWDB). These funds will be used to provide an estimated 70 paid internships for VN students during the Summer 2025 term. Internships will convert 12 weeks of existing clinical training into paid opportunities, helping students gain real-world experience while earning income. This initiative is designed to improve retention and completion rates in the VN program by reducing the need for students to work jobs outside of school. Currently, 30 percent of students who begin the VN program do not graduate, largely due to financial hardship.
The total cost of the HIIF project is $100,000, all of which is federally funded by TWC through GCWDB. No matching or non-governmental funds are required for this project. Blake Brittain serves as the project director.
Victoria College’s VN program is supported by strong partnerships with regional employers and agencies, which hosts clinical training; Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent, which provides additional student aid and career fairs; and the Victoria Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) East Region, which promotes healthcare careers and supports students academically and financially.
These combined investments reinforce Victoria College’s commitment to preparing students for high-demand careers in healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved areas where trained nurses are urgently needed.
Additionally, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) awarded VC a $247,500 Lone Star Workforce of the Future (LSWF) Fund grant to help train Licensed Vocational Nurses for high-demand healthcare careers. This grant will be used to cover training costs for an estimated 33 VN students during the Fall 2025 semester, helping them complete the one-year, 41-credit-hour program. Scholarship recipients must be in their final semester and set to graduate in December 2025. In addition to financial support, participants will receive help with job placement through career workshops and employer forums. The goal is for all program completers to gain employment as vocational nurses within six months of graduation.
The total cost of the Lone Star Workforce of the Future project is $412,500, with 60 percent, or $247,500, funded by the Texas Workforce Commission. The remaining 40 percent, or $165,000, will come from other sources, including $132,000, or 32 percent, in Federal Title IV financial aid and $33,000, or eight percent, in private scholarship funds administered by the Victoria College Foundation. The project is directed by Devoni Borgohain.