LEWISTOWN — Cade Penepacker thought he had his journey into the healthcare profession all figured.

The 2022 Mifflin County High School graduate enrolled at Penn State’s Scranton campus for his courses in nursing and continued playing college basketball. His first year made it seem like everything was falling into place – both academically and athletically.

For Penepacker, it proved to be more of a wakeup call.

“I played a year of college basketball there and then was unable to continue when I learned that most of my classes were going to be held late in the evening during my practices and games,” Penepacker said.

“I then started to come home most weekends to see friends and family, which was a long drive both ways,” added Penepacker, who lives in Yeagertown. “This is when I decided to transfer to the Geisinger School of Nursing. With it being local, I was able to save money by living at home and it was much easier because I did not have to travel as much.”

He enrolled in the Geisinger School of Nursing’s two-year associates of nursing degree program in January 2024.

On Saturday morning at the Lewistown Community Center, Penepacker was one of 20 students who received their diplomas and nursing pins as part of the latest graduating class at the Geisinger School of Nursing, which opened in downtown Lewistown in May 2024.

“The new Geisinger School of Nursing provided my classmates and I with the best possible opportunities to learn and grow our skills,” he explained.

With the school being operated by Geisinger, Penepacker and other students were able to practice skills that other schools might not allow such as inserting IVs for patients when needed.

Students also had the luxury of attending several different care centers and hospitals for clinical rotations, which gives them an advantage and provides more opportunity to learn in different settings.

“These experiences better prepared us for our future as nurses in the real clinical setting,” said Penepacker of landing a job in the nursing field, which is experiencing a vast shortage of nurses.

Geisinger officials recognized the achievements of its newest graduating class – not only for the nursing profession but establishing a foundation for the school.

“This year’s graduates represent the future of bedside care, having completed a rigorous Associate Degree in Nursing program that emphasizes hands-on learning, small class sizes, and direct clinical experience,” said Geisinger School of Nursing Director Beth Finkbiner, MSN. RN. “These nurses are prepared to serve our communities with compassion, competence and a commitment to evidence-based practice.”

Penepacker also has a great deal of pride in being involved with the pomp and circumstance from Saturday’s inaugural graduating class.

“It is very exciting being a part of a first graduating class,” Penepacker said. “It shows that our school is growing, which is not only great for the healthcare system but also for the Mifflin County area as well.”