Partnerships
College to Boost Region's Healthcare Workforce with $3M Kenan Investment
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 15, 2026) – Wake Tech is expanding the Boost student success model, a workforce development initiative designed to help students complete their degrees sooner, into nursing and other healthcare programs.
Powered by a $3 million investment from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, the healthcare-focused expansion of Boost integrates with and adds to the college's Care Team advising model that organizes advisors and student success coaches across 13 job sectors, including healthcare. This model has contributed to the highest student retention rates in Wake Tech's history.
The investment and new program were announced Friday during the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges meeting in Raleigh.
"We are excited to expand this model to our Health Sciences programs," said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. "This investment strengthens our ability to create greater economic mobility for students while helping meet the region's growing healthcare workforce needs."
Through the Kenan Charitable Trust's investment, Wake Tech will add healthcare-specific Boost success coaches to support students through the unique pace and intensive requirements of Health Sciences coursework and clinical training. Students will also receive tuition assistance, textbook funding and a monthly stipend for meeting attendance and grade requirements. The program is expected to serve up to 150 students each year and will launch this fall.
"The credibility of the Boost model is undeniable, and we believe in this model and the ambitious statewide vision of Propel NC," said Robby Russell, grant officer for the Kenan Charitable Trust. "To further this essential, transformative work, the Kenan Charitable Trust is proud to join this partnership to serve students pursuing healthcare degrees, strengthening the state's workforce in a crucial sector."
Wake County is growing larger and older at the same time, adding an average of 66 new residents each day, many of whom are over the age of 55. As the largest healthcare education provider in North Carolina, Wake Tech plays a critical role in preparing the skilled professionals needed to serve a growing and aging region.
The college has been significantly increasing investment in healthcare programs, including building a $100 million simulation hospital on the Perry Health Sciences Campus and launching programs in Respiratory Therapy and Cardiovascular Sonography.
