Nearly 50 graduate from Tec Centro Lebanon in inaugural healthcare class

“I never dreamed of success. I worked for it.”

That mantra was written on the mortarboard of one of Tec Centro Lebanon’s inaugural graduating class members at a ceremony held on May 21. The sentiment was true of all the nearly 50 students who received certifications in one of four healthcare disciplines at a graduation ceremony held for the adult learners at the WEPA Empowerment Center in downtown Lebanon.

Prior to the ceremony, a press event was held for the naming of the healthcare suite where the students had studied. The Franklin J. Dixon Healthcare Suite was announced in honor of the local philanthropist and the foundation’s financial support of the learning center.

Four students from the Class of 2025 shared their journeys to improve their lives and be a positive force in the community by working in the healthcare field. The four disciplines available to students were certified nursing aide, healthcare office assistant, certified medical assistant, and certified phlebotomy technician.

For Franchesca Rodriguez DeJesus, who graduated with a certified nursing aide certification, her decision to study at the educational institution was two-fold: to better her life while also being able to help others.

“I needed to find a way to work and support myself. I wanted to do CNA training a long time ago, but I didn’t have the finance to cover school. It is difficult to find employers to make their training available,” DeJesus said. “I am also thankful to WEPA for accepting me as my professional life is no longer on hold. My training is going to let me make more money so I can take care of myself. I like to be independent. I will have the option to travel. I can now work anywhere and anytime.”

Community service was important to her, too.

“In the future I would like to work at a hospice. I am excited to keep learning and growing in the healthcare field,” DeJesus said. “To my classmates, I encourage you to never stop growing. Keep on going and don’t look back. Let us be the hands and heart to provide care to those in need.”

Tania Riveria, who received a healthcare office assistant degree, said it’s been a lifelong dream to work in healthcare.

“Going back to school was not easy. I had to give up a job and then face financial problems. There were many times I wanted to quit. I didn’t think I could have made it, but I knew I really wanted to work in the medical field ever since I was a child,” she said. “I kept searching myself, saying, ‘No, no, Tania, you can do this.’ And now I’m here today to graduate.”

Rivera’s announcement that she has a job in the profession she dreamed of since she was a child was met with thunderous applause. “That training helped me to move my life forward,” she added.

Brian Raub, a certified medical assistant graduate, said during the ceremony that all his fellow students had a good story to tell, motivated by a desire to serve others.

“About 10 years ago when I was homeless and not by choice, I received healthcare from the Lebanon Free Clinic just up the street from here. I’m very happy to tell you that I am a volunteer there now as a medical assistant because of Lebanon Tec Centro and I’m able to give back to the community,” said Raub, to more applause. “And I fully intend, with God’s help, to use my training to help others and will use this medical certification to help others for the rest of my life.”

Raub thanked Tec Centro Lebanon co-founder Rafael Torres, who launched WEPA in Lebanon city with his wife Maribel, for deciding to open the center.

“Life choices one after another build upon each other. Not to say that a life gone wrong can’t change direction. Not to say that a life without seeming purpose can’t find it, nor as indeed can. The decisions that made this moment possible were conscious decisions, ideas that came from a big picture man, one who seeks to serve and help everyone find their maximum potential, to empower you to be the best version of you,” Raub said. “And for that reason, I want to thank Rafael Torres most of all for being that man, for looking not on the outside, but on the inside of a person, and for, at times, looking beyond that.”

Certified phlebotomy technician certificate recipient Irismari Cotto thanked the WEPA staff, her family and God, noting her decision to improve her life was to benefit her children. During her remarks she thanked her oldest daughter for helping her to study and encouraging her during her journey.

Another two students along with Raub spoke to LebTown about their decisions to advance or change their career paths through Tec Centro prior to the start of the ceremony. 

Amid Vazquez, who received a certificate as a certified nursing aide, said her decision to study at Tec Centro was to drive her career out of warehouse work as a picker and into the healthcare profession.

“I enjoy helping people so why not take a chance to go to school,” Vazquez said. “But then we’re not teenagers anymore, we’re adults now, so I was trying to manage my time and I thought, ‘Oh my God, how do I work and have time to study?’ (But) they gave me a shot and I’m really grateful for that.”

Estefanye Morales, who received a certified phlebotomy technician degree, said her motivation is to continue to advance her career in healthcare. 

“What drove me to want to study was I’m already a CNA, and I’ve always wanted to proceed in the healthcare field, and I’m going to be going back to school for my RN,” Morales said. “But before that, I wanted to have a lot of experience with drawing blood and finding veins. So when I saw that they had that opportunity, I applied and I had an interview. I just told them I was really interested, and I would like to proceed in that field.”

Prior to graduation, many of the students gathered with WEPA officials for a dedication ceremony naming the healthcare wing the Franklin J. Dixon Healthcare Suite to honor the local philanthropist who died in 2022 at age 92.

The Lebanon-based Franklin J. Dixon Foundation provided $160,000 towards the creation of WEPA, according to Torres.

“I went to the Dixon Foundation and they didn’t say no,” Torres said at the dedication. “They knew that our community needed to get better and what better way than to replicate what other communities are doing and that’s working for them.”

Dixon’s grandson, David Dixon, said the foundation exists to improve the quality of life in Lebanon County.

“We got to be on the ground floor at WEPA and see how they went from having nothing and then coming here and starting and the direct impact in real time on not only what you are seeing here, but their families and actually generations in Lebanon County to come,” he said. “And to see that on such an individual basis and from start to finish, is such an incredible feeling.”

David concluded his comments by saying the foundation’s board of directors is excited to see what comes next for WEPA.

Visit the WEPA website for more information on education opportunities at Tec Centro Lebanon.