Four men and 23 women graduated from the school's practical nursing program last week. Of those, 20 will begin work on the more advanced associate degree in nursing thanks to a state grant that boosted allied health opportunities at South Carolina's 16 two-year colleges.

"Without the grant, I would have been on the associate degree waiting list for a year before they could get me in," said Conway, who wants to work in a nursing home.

The waiting list is two years long, said Mary Anne Laney, York Tech's associate dean for Allied Health and Nursing.

"Now, it may be less," Laney said of the grant. "The benefits are to our community, because it's going to increase the ability of our hospitals to have qualified nurses. It takes tax dollars and puts it back into your area."

York Tech received $620,430 to expand its practical nursing and associate degree programs. The practical nursing degree is a three-semester program that trains students to work in assisted living and in physicians' offices, with some opportunities also in hospitals and school districts.

The associate degree program requires five semesters and prepares nursing graduates to work in hospitals and assume leadership roles.

Last year, the college's Chester and Lancaster practical nursing programs began with 20 students each. The grant will enable each to open with 30 students each this year.

Last year, there were 64 seniors in the associate degree nursing program, said Jane Fleischer, program coordinator. This year, due to the grant there will be 88 students in the program, a cooperative effort between York Tech and the University of South Carolina-Lancaster.

It is estimated South Carolina needs 3,000 new nurses and technicians a year, but the state only produces about one-third of that. As a result, Piedmont Medical Center recruited about a dozen of its 500 nurses from other countries this year.

Obtaining nursing faculty is another problem, Laney said. York Tech has 12 full-time nursing faculty members and a number of part-time instructors.

Fleischer points out training local nursing graduates is another advantage.

"These are students from our community who work here, live here, go to school here and are raising their children here," she said. "They will be here for a long time."

Conway, 24, was born in South Carolina and has lived in Rock Hill since she was 5. She's a 2000 Northwestern High School graduate and has a 3-year-old son.

"I plan to stay in this area," she said. "I would like eventually to get my bachelor's degree in nursing."

York Tech practical nursing graduates

Last week, York Technical College graduated 27 students with degrees in practical nursing. They are: · Rock Hill: Melody Brazil, Katrina Conway, Linda Gilgallon, Monica Grubb, Paula Malone, Sheila Perrigan, Donna Townsend and Deloris Turbeville · Chester: Shemeka Hardin · Clover: Crystal Ballard, Jessica Brooks, Mark Hill and Cedric Sanders · Edgemoor: Britteny Burgess and Kerry Penland · Fort Mill: Kimberly Adams and Angel Hovis · Fort Lawn: Judy Nevis · Heath Springs: Lesia Allen, Cassie Howell and Lisa Roberson · Smyrna: Jody Kendrick · York: Lee Ann Childers · Lancaster: Sandra McClain and Shalonda Reid · Blackstock: Christine McKenzie · McClellanville: Elijah Swinton