Class of 1983 CTE Tuition Challenge

Golden Eagle Challenge: Class of 1983

The Bourgade Catholic Class of 1983 is being called to lead the way! Together, we have the chance to make a lasting impact on future Golden Eagles by supporting Tuition Assistance for the Career & Technical Education CNA Certified Nursing Program.

Our very own classmate, Cathy (Heyn) Quinlan ’83, and her husband Roger, have stepped forward with an incredible gift: they will match every dollar we raise, 1:1. That means your $50 becomes $100, your $100 becomes $200—all directly helping students pursue their calling in healthcare.

This is more than a gift. It’s a chance for our class to leave a legacy of compassion, service, and opportunity. The CNA program not only prepares students with valuable career skills but also equips them to serve with dignity and care—living out the Gospel in their work.

Class of ’83, let’s rise to the challenge! Every gift doubles and every student benefits. Let’s show today’s Golden Eagles the strength and generosity of our class.

Read about this exciting program…

Licensed to Care: Bourgade Catholic’s First Class of CNA Graduates

Among the seniors in the Class of 2025 are the first-ever graduates of our Introduction to Healthcare Professions & CNA CTE program.

PHOENIX – When Career and Technical Education (CTE) launched at Bourgade Catholic in the fall of 2023, the goal was to offer students CTE programs with a Catholic world view to align with the school’s mission.

Last week, that goal was realized as Bourgade graduated its first class of the highly popular Introduction to Healthcare professions & CNA (certified nursing assistant) CTE program.

“Bourgade Catholic’s CNA program answers the call of our mission to assist students in discovering and developing their God-given potential,” Principal Tom Brennan said.

Eleven seniors graduated May 22 with not only their high school diplomas but also a certificate of completion that makes them candidates for Arizona State Board of Nursing certification.

     (Bourgade Catholic's first graduating class of the nursing assistants CTE program)

The Arizona State Board of Nursing approved the program for Bourgade’s CNA licensing in 2024. The process requires a curriculum, supplies, a class space with specific requirements and an appropriately credentialed teacher.

“Our curriculum was developed by professionals in the field of nursing education from GCU and ASU,” said Assistant Principal, Dr. Carrie Shanahan. “Our healthcare classroom, which was created from previously existing classrooms in the fall of 2023, has a space for students to practice patient care and bed-to-chair transfers.”

Two RNs lead the way

The Sacred Heart Health Center at Bourgade is led by Shannon David and Rebecca Harvey, both registered nurses, who are teaching and mentoring the next generation of healthcare workers.

David, a nurse for 45 years, is the school’s lead Certified Health Occupations Teacher on campus. She began teaching in 1985, instructing Advanced Cardiac Life Support across Michigan. She joined Bourgade a little over a year ago.

“I began as a nursing assistant after high school graduation and upon graduating nursing school began working as an RN,” she shared. “I attended nursing school in Michigan and am very proud to say I am a ‘Mercy Nurse’, that is one taught by the Sisters of Mercy.”

                                                   (Nurse David with nursing assistant students)

She began her career on a medical-surgical/rehabilitation unit before transitioning to a cardiac step-down unit and then fulfilling her dream of working in the Emergency Room just 18 months later. Over 10 years in suburban Detroit ERs, she mentored new nurses, taught advanced cardiac life support, and worked with pharmaceutical companies at the very hospital where she was born.

After relocating to Arizona in 1995, she continued ER nursing before shifting to education in 2004. From 2007 to 2022, she served as school nurse at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Tempe, where she created health education programs for all grade levels and led efforts to safely return students to in-person learning during COVID. She also coordinated Diocesan Nurses for seven years, combining clinical expertise with a passion for teaching and leadership.

“Teaching has always been a part of my job description,” she explained. “Much of nursing is taught in the clinical setting and there is always the opportunity to mentor new/novice nurses and that has been a role I have always enjoyed!”

Harvey has 14 years of nursing experience and graduated from the University of Arizona. Her diverse career has included caring for patients ranging from 23-week preemies to 102-year-olds. She now splits her time as a neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurse at a valley hospital and a first-year part-time teacher with the nursing assistant students at Bourgade.

“It has been such a learning opportunity. I have been so grateful to learn and grow with Nurse David as my lead teacher and mentor,” she said. “I get to share the nursing core values with my students and we get to show them how to give compassionate, patient-centered care.”

                                         (Nurse Harvey helping nursing assistant students)

Like David, Harvey has taken care of others practically her whole life. As an adolescent, she cared for her younger sister, an experience that taught her the importance of looking after others. In high school, she discovered that nurses are primary caregivers, solidifying her desire to pursue a nursing career.

“As the nursing assistant teacher, I get to share the nursing core values with my students,” Harvey said. “We get to show them how to give compassionate, patient-centered care. I strive to teach an understanding that a therapeutic relationship with the patients is created with empathy and mindfulness.”

Inside the curriculum

Bourgade’s CNA program follows the Arizona Board of Nursing curriculum which includes 16 competencies that students must meet. Key skills include: bed making, taking vital signs, bathing, feeding, assisting patients with walking and movement, transport and positioning of patients, and maintaining safe environments including infection control practices.

Throughout the school year, students learned both the theory behind nursing practices and practical patient care skills. In the second year of the program, they are eligible to take the state certification exam to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), qualifying them to work in various healthcare settings. This training also gives students a strong foundation for entering nursing school, where CNA experience is increasingly required.

                                                                    (Students dressed in PPE)

The CTE program follows a structured weekly rotation that includes classroom instruction, hands-on lab practice with simulations and real-life scenarios and clinical experience at local healthcare facilities.

“We are with the students at Boswell Transitional Care of Cascadia and Banner University Medical Center Phoenix to mentor and instruct them in taking care of patients,” David said.

This approach allows students to build knowledge, practice skills in a controlled setting, and apply what they’ve learned while caring for real patients under the guidance of experienced instructors.

“Students focus on care of patients with acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) needs,” she explained. “The skills they learn allow them to provide direct patient care in a safe manner.”

                                 (Students train to learn how to properly wash their hands)

Students learn to take vital signs, assist with diagnostic tests, and support nurses in providing holistic care. Throughout the program, there is a strong emphasis on respecting patient rights and preserving each individual’s dignity in every aspect of care.

“The students gain an understanding of physical aging and health problems that can occur through the body systems. The students practice newly learned skills and connect the care needs with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs,” Harvey added.

Where faith meets care

“If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.” - St. John Chrysostom

The quote is a favorite for Nurse David who shared it with her students. It exemplifies the essence of what it means to those who are called to serve as healthcare professionals. For her, it is impossible to separate faith and her role as a nurse.

“We must always remember that Christ is present in every patient we meet, regardless of their circumstance or station in life,” she said. “We meet them where they are and minister to them with compassion and mercy.”

She also emphasized the Catholic tradition of religious orders establishing nursing schools and shaping the profession.

“Being able to teach nursing in an environment where it is supported by our faith is such a blessing! What separates our program from others is that we are really focused on formation of our students, not just instructing,” she said.

For Nurse Harvey, it was a similar experience. While she values her beside nursing role, she began searching for a way to further “fill her cup” and share her dedication for nursing.

“As a teacher I get to share my passion for nursing and the science behind the care we deliver and teaching at Bourgade Catholic has allowed me to reflect and renew my faith,” she said. “Sharing my passion and faith allows me to feel more connected to my nursing role.”

Spotlight on two standout students

In the 2024-2025 school year, the CTE Introduction to Healthcare and CNA program had 19 students in the first year (juniors) and 11 students in the second year (seniors).

Those 11 seniors are the first graduating class of the program, marking a major milestone for both the students and the school.

“The ladies who make up our first cohort have done a remarkable job, especially in the clinical setting and have been invited to apply for employment following graduation,” David said.

Among the standouts are Valeria Gonzalez Ruiz and Kylie Bonheimer, who discovered the program during sophomore year course selection. Drawn by its hands-on learning and service focus, both saw it as a way to explore their healthcare aspirations.

Valeria and KylieValeria (left) and Kylie (right) in front of Bourgade Catholic’s Sacred Heart Health Center

“Bourgade has always emphasized the importance of service, compassion, and faith. My experience here has shown me that every patient deserves the same respect and dignity, no matter their circumstance,” Gonzalez Ruiz said.

“The opportunity we’ve been given to go to clinicals at a transitional care facility and at Banner has shown me both ends of the spectrum of healthcare. Bourgade has instilled a passion for healthcare within me and I believe that passion will get me far,” Bonheimer said.

In the classroom, students focus on developing and strengthening critical reasoning skills while practicing basic nursing care tasks and nursing assistant observations in both the simulation lab and clinical settings.

“One of the most valuable skills I’ve learned is how to effectively communicate and be clear with patients and become more compassionate to those who are vulnerable, scared, and in pain,” Gonzalez Ruiz said.

“Oftentimes, the residents that we help are in a worse position than we are, and it takes a certain kind of person to set aside your discomfort, fears, uncertainties so that you’re able to honor their dignity and create an environment that is as close to home as possible,” Bonheimer added.

                                           (Students learning how to properly perform CPR)

Balancing high school coursework with CNA training proved to be one of the most challenging aspects because it required strong time management and dedication. Juggling multiple classes, labs, and clinical hours starting before 7 a.m. meant students had to stay organized and make strategic use of their time.

“Our students were consistently complimented on their compassion and dedication to patients by their precepting nursing assistants, nurses, and nurse managers,” Harvey said.

“There have been so many moments in the clinical setting when I have witnessed our students exuding such compassion and empathy to their patients that it has brought tears to my eyes. It is truly seeing them live out the Gospel,” David added.

The most notable accomplishments of this inaugural class is the professionalism they displayed during clinical rotations. In fast-paced healthcare environments that can often feel overwhelming, they maintained a level of maturity well beyond their years.

One memorable experience for Valeria in the clinical setting was at Banner and involved a special opportunity that left a lasting impression: a visit to the NICU.

“I remember seeing the tiniest baby ever, as he was a couple inches big, and all the mini sized equipment,” she said. “This made me realize how innovative healthcare has become as we have progressed. This also made me admire the healthcare nurses and staff who work tirelessly for the care of these babies including those around them.”

(Nursing assistant students from left to right: Mia Hernandez, Jazmin Miranda, Kylie Bonheimer, Emily Barlandas Gomez and Mia Madrid)

A standout moment for Kylie came during her final shift at Banner, when there was an opportunity to spend the morning paired with a nurse on the Labor and Delivery floor.

“With 30 minutes left, I got to be present in a delivery room while a couple brought their first baby into the world,” she said. “While I didn’t witness the entire process, being present in the room was beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined I’d be able to do on a random Tuesday in April. I will always remember that experience and it reinforced my desire to potentially pursue being a Labor and Delivery nurse one day.”

As members of the first graduating class of Bourgade Catholic’s CNA program, both Gonzalez Ruiz and Bonheimer expressed pride in the legacy they are leaving behind and have set the standard for those who will follow in their footsteps.

“I hope to leave a legacy of hard work and faith, so that future students know that they’re capable of more than they believe and will overcome obstacles along the way,” Gonzalez Ruiz said. “This program will not only shape them to be professionals, but also as people.”

“We’ve paved the way for all future Bourgade students who will attend the same clinical facilities that we have,” Bonheimer said. “It’s truly humbling to know that we have set the example for what this program is supposed to look like.”

Looking Ahead

As Bourgade’s first CNA graduates prepare to enter the workforce or pursue further education, they leave behind a legacy of compassion and professionalism. Then there’s the impact of Nurse David and Nurse Harvey.

“They pushed us to learn and grow, supported us when we struggled, and set expectations because they knew we were capable of achieving something,” said Gonzalez Ruiz.

For Bonheimer, the motivation is clear: “To be of aid and make someone’s life even just a little easier.”

On May 16, during a ceremony in front of the entire student body, David and Harvey presented seniors with their CNA certificates and forest green honor cords. These cords traditionally represent achievement in the health sciences and are the color most commonly used by CTE programs in healthcare.

              (Nurse David and Nurse Harvey with students after presenting their honor cords)

“I hope that they each find their path for achieving their goals,” said David. “I hope that they will come back and visit to inspire those students who come after them.”

“I hope they remember that, as nursing assistants, they usually spend the most time with patients,” Harvey said. “So they will get to see their patient’s positive improvements or may be the first to recognize concerns to share with the interdisciplinary team.”

For this historic group of Bourgade students who made their mark in the CNA program, the experience has now opened the doors to new possibilities.

“Whether I stay in healthcare or explore a similar pathway, this certification will show my hard work and dedication to care for others,” Gonzalez Ruiz said.

“I never knew that it would be possible to accomplish something like this in such a short amount of time,” Bonheimer added. “I’m so excited to start my career and I hope to be a nurse one day.”