Lucas DeVries exemplifies the benefits of pursuing higher education locally and benefitting from strong community support. Born and raised in Newark, Ohio, Lucas graduated from Newark High School in 2023. Having attended Newark City Schools for his entire education, he was very familiar with A Call to College, an educational access program partnering with the district.

"A Call to College came into my classroom in elementary school," he recalls, "and they taught us about investing and saving for college." Little did Lucas know, that early introduction would be pivotal in shaping his academic path, as Lucas is now a grateful recipient of a Last Dollar Grant from A Call to College. This financial support has been made possible by a scholarship fund held at the Newark Campus Development Fund. This financial relief has allowed him to focus on his studies and save for other personal needs, like a car.

“The scholarship, combined with a Pell grant and a College Credit Plus grant, has completely paid for my college expenses,” he explains.

Now in his fourth semester of the nursing program at COTC, Lucas has found a passion for healthcare and the opportunities it offers. “I love it,” he says of the program, explaining how its top accreditation and the recommendations of friends factored into his decision. COTC, located just 10 minutes from his home, was not only convenient but also the most cost-effective option. Staying close to home has allowed him to live with his family while attending one of the best nursing programs in the area.

The close-knit, community-oriented environment at COTC has been another significant factor in Lucas’s success. He values the connections he has built through clinical experiences, where instructors bring their real-world expertise into the classroom. “Most of the teachers still practice in the hospitals they teach in,” Lucas shared. “It’s huge for the education we’re getting.”

Lucas's experiences have opened his eyes to the wide range of possibilities within nursing. "I’ve always wanted to help people," he says, "and nursing provides a lot of room for growth and specialization. COTC is just so focused on being able to have that clinical experience, that when someone gets hired at a hospital they can tell you have been doing these skills for a while and that you went to a school that values the clinical time, which COTC definitely does.”

From his impactful clinical at Genesis Hospital to his upcoming pediatric rotation at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Newark High School, he’s had a diverse and hands-on education. While his immediate goal is to graduate in the spring, pass his nursing boards, and start working locally, Lucas is already thinking about the future. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree and potentially a master’s in nursing, with the idea of becoming a nurse practitioner or educator.

Thanks to programs like A Call to College and financial support from scholarships held at the Newark Campus Development Fund, Lucas has felt supported to pursue his dream close to home while working towards building a bright future in healthcare.