Nursing graduate finds the BEST route to college success

Reprinted with permission from The Times of Ottawa.

By Charles Stanley

For Sharonfay Lane it wasn't the third time that was a charm. It was the fourth.

And her story on that began as a dull bit of business before the La Salle County Board but ended with a standing ovation.

The meeting agenda item said only "Resolution: Illinois Workforce

Partnership." And the resolution itself, with the usual "whereas" and

"therefore" paragraphs filled with blah, blah, blah verbiage proclaiming Aug.27 as the start of "Workforce Development Week," had all the appeal of a sawdust sandwich.

Pam Furlan, executive director of the Business Employment Skills Team, one of the member organizations of North Central Illinois Works, was called on to explain the purpose of that four-county network of state and local governments, agencies and schools.

"The ultimate goal is to provide local employers with well-prepared,

well-qualified workers."

The methods may vary, she said. "But we always start out with the belief that anyone who is willing and able to work should have the opportunity to do so."

During the past year, she said, 24,000 people had been helped in some way,with 7,000 of those coming from La Salle County. And that number, she noted, did not include people receiving public assistance or those who checked job listings.

Help is available to young, old, handicapped, veterans -- anyone sincerely looking for a new or better job.

"Sometimes we see people who just aren't sure what they want to be when they grow up -- and I'm not just talking about youths."

Then Furlan introduced Sharonfay Lane.

Standing before the County Board in the white nurses dress she bought to wear at her graduation last May from Illinois Valley Community College, she condensed into three minutes the three years that, with BEST's help, turned her into a registered nurse.

Story reprinted with permission from The Times of Ottawa.

She had known since 1984 she wanted to be a registered nurse. She had grownup in North Carolina and worked as a nurse’s aide and certified nursing assistant before moving to La Salle County five years ago.

She told the County Board that about three years ago she took stock of her life, finding herself to be a divorced mother of a teenage daughter and basically an unskilled worker. Three times before she had attempted to become a registered nurse, and always money and lack of home support prevented her.

But she wanted to try again.

"I went to IVCC and I asked: What can I do? What hope is there? What financial aid is available? And I was asked to call BEST."

There she was tested and interviewed, and when it was determined she was qualified, enrolled as a nursing student.

It was not a smooth run, says Tracy Morris, the IVCC director of admissions and records, who had known Lane throughout her college career and was at one time her counselor.

"I know that she had quite a few challenges throughout the way."

There was a house fire and some serious family illnesses that twice required Lane temporarily to return to North Carolina. And when her car broke down she walked to the campus.

"But Sharonfay always kept her head up, and anytime I'd see her in the

hallway she had a big smile," said Morris. "She kept a positive attitude and she still kept persevering, and I think that's huge."

To Lane, however, it was the personal and financial support from BEST that was critical to her success at IVCC.

BEST had been a good match for other students as well, said Gloria Bouxsein, IVCC's director of nursing.

"Sometimes students may not be eligible for a type of financial support at the college that other places like BEST can provide. But with BEST, besides the financial support there is the emotional and moral support."

"Could I have made it without them?" said Lane. "Absolutely not. They paid for tuition, books and some supplies and some mileage. And they gave me encouragement I had never had before."

It was assistance, Lane, with wet eyes and a quavering voice, told the County Board that she will never forget.

"I am dedicated to giving back to the residents of La Salle County what you have given me: a chance for a better, improved life."

And then the applause started.

More information on North Central Illinois Works is available online at

www.nciworks.org.