Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation awards $310,000 grant to Highlands College School to Work CNA program

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has awarded Highlands College of Montana Tech a $310,000 grant to support its CNA School to Work program, enabling young people to explore careers and pathways in healthcare and potentially obtain a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license through the Foundations of Healthcare Certificate. This generous award will support high school students in the following nine Montana counties: Big Horn, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Lake, Missoula, Park, Rosebud and Yellowstone.

“Now in its fifth year, the CNA School to Work program at Highlands College has become a highly popular and successful pathway for future healthcare professionals,” Dean of Highlands College Tammy Burke said. “The funding from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation will provide comprehensive financial and logistical support for our students, covering instruction, books, materials, dual enrollment tuition, course fees, scrubs, essential clinical tools (blood pressure cuffs and stethoscope), and testing costs. We also provide individualized support to ensure every student has the guidance needed to succeed. This program allows high school students to earn their CNA license—a critical workforce credential—prior to graduation, with classes and required clinicals conveniently held in their local communities. It is designed to be completed in one semester to one year, facilitating a smooth transition directly into the healthcare workforce.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity to significantly expand the CNA School to Work program to additional communities across Montana,” Director of Dual Enrollment and Grant Funding Bernie Phelps said. “Rural healthcare is changing and being able to provide training within local communities – helping them ‘grow their own’ workforce – is incredibly meaningful. The support through the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation will impact young learners, in eligible counties, across the state of Montana.”

This one-year grant will make an impact by supporting 75 young people as they explore careers and pathways within the healthcare industry. Crucially, the funding will enable 40 students to obtain their Certified Nursing Assistant license through the program. Highlands College is proud to support the industry's growing need for entry-level healthcare workers, and students in the program can continue to build on this strong foundation by stacking their CNA training into higher levels of patient-care education.

Moriah Reich, a current nursing student at Montana Tech’s Sherry Lesar School of Nursing, looks back and thinks about how impactful the CNA School to Work program through Highlands College has been for her.

“Growing up in rural Montana, I was able to complete college level courses as well as obtain my CNA license prior to high school graduation,” Reich said. “By doing this, I was able to secure a job at my local hospital which has helped me greatly with various tasks in nursing school. Having the opportunity to complete the CNA School to Work Program was a stepping stone in my path to wanting to continue to pursue a nursing degree. I am thankful for Highlands College and the knowledge I gained through course work and hands-on skills.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes the median pay for CNAs in the U.S. in 2024 was $18.96 an hour, with more than 1.4 million CNA jobs available. A 2024 report from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry projects there are an estimated 750 job openings for CNAs in Montana each year through 2032 – the most among nursing occupations in the state.

Any current Montana high school students who have interest in the programs can contact Kinsley Rafish at krafish@mtech.edu.