WT Nursing Student to Present Research on Foster Youth for National Audience

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - A West Texas A&M University nursing student is one of six from around the country chosen to present research for a national coalition of health educators.

Raven King, a senior nursing major from Amarillo, will present "Foster Care Youth Transitioning into Adulthood and Higher Education" on Dec. 3 for the annual National Area Health Education Scholars Collaborative.

King, a Panhandle AHEC Scholar, will join students from Wisconsin, Oregon, Missouri, Maryland and Illinois in making online presentations to AHECs around the country.

"This will grant me the opportunity to bring more awareness to the fact that a shocking 3 percent of foster youth graduate with a higher degree despite the various support systems available to them," King said. "It means so much to me to be able to advocate for youth who share experiences with me through researching the shared barriers and support services that foster youth encounter."

King began researching the challenges and barriers facing foster youth in their transition from secondary school into higher education as a member of WT's McNair Scholars Program.

"I wanted to research a topic that is personal to me," said King, who entered the foster system herself at age 15. "I have been grateful for the extended foster care system that has helped me through the transition into adulthood, but as I entered college, I wondered why my peers didn't continue their higher education despite the support available to them."

Presenting for the National AHEC Organization "means so much because I am able to advocate for youth who share experiences with me," King said.

"I hope that expanding research on the lived experiences of foster youths will be used to help those implementing programs for this population," King said.

"Raven demonstrates the hard work and resilience it takes to be a successful student," said Michelle Sulik, Panhandle AHEC community education coordinator. "I have seen her juggle academic and personal challenges, find solutions to move through them, and continue to exude positivity. Because of her compassion and work ethic, Raven will make a wonderful nurse when she graduates."

AHEC Scholars are undergraduate and graduate health professions students who are interested in enhancing their education beyond the classroom. Through the program, they gain knowledge and experiences in patient-centered, team-based care and learn about unique challenges that face underserved rural and/or urban communities.

The Panhandle AHEC, located in Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center, serves the top 20 counties of the Texas Panhandle and is one of six AHECs in the region. Its mission is to address healthcare provider shortage and improve healthcare access in those counties through education and development of the healthcare workforce.

Addressing regional challenges and recruiting top students from the region are both key components of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign's new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest's finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men's and women's athletics programs.

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