An EHOVE Career Center Student's Journey to Surgical Technology Success

Career tech education provides students with the tools to identify a path to success through opportunities to explore and acquire the academic knowledge and technical skills needed for their future careers. EHOVE Career Center student Olivia Conley of Sandusky is making the most of those opportunities by choosing a path that will make the career of her dreams a reality.

Conley started her journey in EHOVE High School’s Medical Careers program and graduated in 2023. After learning the fundamentals of working in medicine, earning her State Tested Nurse Aide certification, and exploring the career possibilities, she chose to attend EHOVE Adult Education’s Surgical Technology occupational program.

When she graduates from EHOVE Adult Education in July, she plans to work as a surgical technologist to gain the experience she needs for, and to fund the remainder of, her education to become a Registered Nurse First Assistant, which is an RN who works in surgical care during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages of surgery.

That path is a lot different than she’d seen for herself just a few years earlier. “Before attending EHOVE in high school, I never planned on continuing my education after high school,” said Conley. “I was the first in my family to graduate high school, let alone continue my education after. When I started EHOVE, my plan changed for the better. I became more confident in myself and my education. I started making plans for my future, and I knew that I wanted to do more with my education. I would have never made it this far in my education without EHOVE staff and resources. There are so many educators that believed in me and helped me so much through my education.”

Through a clinical rotation of EHOVE’s Surgical Technology program, she is acquiring real-world experience in the operating room at Cleveland Clinic’s Avon location and making professional connections. “Throughout Olivia's time in the program, it has become abundantly clear that she possesses an exceptional array of strengths and qualities that truly set her apart,” said Diane Moderwell, Certified Surgical Technologist and Lead Tech who supervises Conley.

“Her unwavering commitment to patient care is nothing short of inspiring. With a rare blend of compassion, precision, and attention to detail, she consistently demonstrates her ability to provide the highest standard of care to those in need," Moderwell said. "EHOVE's program has an unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with its rigorous curriculum and hands-on training opportunities, which has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in shaping Olivia into the remarkable individual she is today.”

“I am beyond excited for my future career as a surgical technologist,” said Conley. “This is a huge stepping stone for me, and I cannot wait to continue my education even further after. I know that there will be ups and downs, like every career, but I know confidently that I am being prepared for the real world.”

Yesteryear’s negative image of career tech education is repeatedly being proven as something quite different. Today's (and tomorrow’s) reality of career tech education is that it provides students with real-world experience, specific skills with the latest technology, and relevant industry certifications that enable them to get a jumpstart on an in-demand career and further education. Olivia Conley is just one of many thousands of students across Ohio each year that already know this firsthand and are making the most of it for their future.