Whether it’s a packed auditorium with hundreds of Dwyer Scholars crossing the stage or a small class of just a few students — the magic of graduation day always feels the same. It’s a moment filled with pride, possibility, and promise for the future. That’s what being a Dwyer Scholar is all about.
On July 1, seven Scholars of The Heights of Gonzales, a skilled nursing facility in Gonzales, Texas, graduated from the Nurse Aide in Training (NAIT) program with a celebratory ceremony. Another NAIT graduation was held on July 17 in San Antonio, where Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD) celebrated the achievements of seven Scholars — four from The Enclave and three from Stone Oak Care Center.
As the healthcare industry continues to face critical workforce shortages, DWD continues to grow partnerships that fill the healthcare pipeline and work towards solving the problem. One pivotal partnership impacting DWD’s mission is with Touchstone Communities, a network of healthcare services that manage assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and Texas State Veterans’ Homes.This partnership provides hardworking people — many living in underserved communities or facing limited opportunities — with access to hands-on NAIT programs and support services that help overcome obstacles on the path to becoming Certified Nursing Assistants, a position facing critical shortages and a continuous need for candidates, especially in Texas. The support services are designed to set Scholars up for success by providing resources such as transportation, housing assistance, childcare, and more.
Routine reports from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) identify statewide Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) based on population groups, geography, or healthcare facilities that lack qualified professionals to meet the needs of the people it serves. According to a recent report from HRSA, Texas alone resulted in 900+ HPSAs across the state.
DWD partnered with Touchstone Communities in July 2024 and continues to grow programs throughout Texas. The Heights of Gonzales, The Enclave, and Stone Oak Care Center are just a few of several facilities that provide training program cohorts to DWD Scholars. Cohorts through Touchstone Communities can also be found in Houston, Killeen, Austin, Laredo, and McAllen, with goals to continue expansion. 
“We’re incredibly grateful for the partnership with Touchstone and the way they continue to invest in developing and uplifting the Texas workforce,” says Maria Darby, chief engagement officer at DWD. “It makes a real difference, not just for these graduates, but for the communities they’ll go on to serve.”
Cohorts are typically six-to-eight-week courses that consist of everything from classroom education and testing to hands-on training and clinicals. Alexandra Rutledge, community engagement coordinator at DWD, says key aspects to the partnership include the strong strategic communication and in-house training capabilities that create seamless job placement pipelines for Scholars post-graduation. Rutledge routinely meets with Touchstone team members to ensure Scholars are provided with proper resources, navigation, and coaching, and that instructors are thoroughly tracking and monitoring class progress.
“We go over what’s going well with the Scholars and work together to see if they’ve noticed a Scholar showing up late or if they have a childcare issue, etc., and how we can assist them in that capacity” says Rutledge. “I take all notes back to our team as an opportunity to keep up on Scholar communication like giving them positive shoutouts and encouraging employers to do it as well.”
Since 2022, DWD has worked to address critical healthcare workforce shortages while creating pathways to meaningful careers and expanding access to quality care in communities nationwide. Currently, located in nine states with plans to expand to an additional seven throughout 2026, DWD has served 14,000+ Scholars to date with a goal to serve 100,000 by 2030.
Congrats to our recent graduating Scholars!
THE HEIGHTS OF GONZALES 
Rianna C. Claudia G. Emily G. Lilnika J. Malaiyah M. Peyton S. Julian S.
THE ENCLAVEValeria H. Dominique S. Aliza R. Ian T.
STONE OAK CARE CENTERMelissa Z. Bianca V.Kayla F.