Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals Invest in 11 SCC Students Preparing for Careers in Healthcare
July 06, 2026
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital recently joined Southwestern Community College (SCC) and other regional healthcare partners to celebrate students taking an important step toward careers in healthcare and service to western North Carolina.
The special signing banquet recognized healthcare discipline students who have committed to employer agreements in exchange for educational support. At Harris and Swain, the opportunity is known as the Scholars Program, which helps students earn their degree while preparing to serve patients close to home.
Ashley Hindman, CEO of Harris and Swain, delivered the main remarks for the event, highlighting the essential connection between local education, rural hospitals, and the future of patient care in western North Carolina.
“For rural communities, this work is not abstract,” Hindman said. “It is very real, and it has a direct impact on patients continuing to receive excellent care close to home.”
A total of 11 students signed with Harris and Swain through the Scholars Program, representing healthcare fields that are essential to maintaining strong local access to care, including nursing, sonography, radiography, and emergency medical services.
Through the program, Harris and Swain are helping local students pursue meaningful careers while also supporting the continued need for skilled health care professionals in rural communities. The program reflects the hospitals’ commitment to building strong teams, supporting local education, and helping ensure patients throughout the region continue receiving care close to home.
Hindman recognized Southwestern Community College for its longstanding role in preparing future healthcare professionals for the region, noting that many Harris and Swain team members began their healthcare education at SCC and now serve patients, support families, and lead teams.
“When students from this area are educated here, trained here, and given opportunities to build careers here, the entire region benefits,” Hindman said. “Patients benefit because they are cared for by people who understand these communities. Families benefit because access to care remains closer to home. Healthcare organizations benefit because we are able to build teams with people who are invested in the places we serve.”
Harris and Swain are grateful for SCC’s significant role in developing the local healthcare workforce and preparing students for meaningful careers in service to western North Carolina. Through high-quality education, hands-on training, and a deep understanding of the region’s needs, SCC helps ensure students are ready to move confidently into clinical settings and make an immediate difference for patients and families. Through this continued partnership, Harris and Swain are proud to support these scholars as they continue their education, begin their careers, and become part of the next generation of caregivers helping keep quality care close to home.
“To the scholars, congratulations,” Hindman said. “The work you are doing now is preparing you for a future that matters. One day, you may be the person who helps a patient feel less afraid, notices a change in someone’s condition, explains something clearly to a family member, or helps someone receive care at exactly the moment they need it.”
For more information about the Scholars Program or careers at Harris and Swain, visit MyHarrisRegional.com/careers.