Some four or five years ago, Mankato educators Brab Embacher and Kim Mueller began dreaming of a high school nursing program that would provide Mankato-area youth with useful job skills.

About the same time, the Thro Co. was among many health-care organizations forecasting nursing shortages and wishing for a way to tap into Mankato’s abundance of young people.

And a couple of years ago, Crystal Schwartz was one of those young people, wanting a way to get a head start on her career ambition of becoming a nurse.

Thanks to the implementation of Mankato’s new high school nursing program this year, everyone has received their wish.

“This partnership is a great win for everyone,” said Embacher, the former career education coordinator. “The program has met with a lot of approval everywhere we’ve went.”

Embacher, who recently assumed a position with Greater Mankato Growth, orchestrated a number of career-oriented educational partnerships during her tenure, including the district’s new cooking program — ProStart — as well as its new engineering curriculum — Project Lead the Way.

The nursing partnership between South Central College, the Mankato Area School District and the Thro Co. represents just the latest in a long line of partnerships meant to expose Mankato’s teenagers to real occupations and real job skills.

And the beauty of the nursing partnership is that everyone wins.

The Thro Co. cultivates a new breeding ground for nurses and nursing assistants in return for providing free clinical and lab experience. The School District and South Central College team up to provide instructors and curriculum. And students get the chance to earn three college credits — to be used at SCC or any other MnSCU institution — and a chance to earn full certification as a nursing assistant.

Mankato East students are taking the class this semester. West students will have the opportunity in the spring. There is already a waiting list to get into the class and several area schools also are getting involved.

“We weren’t expecting so much interest right away,” Mueller said. “So far, it’s been a hit.”

Schwartz and fellow East senior Chea Chum are just two of the more than 20 East students taking the class now. Both are doing their clinicals at Oaklawn Health Care Center, a Thro-owned facility.

Schwartz’ spent her last day at Oaklawn on Thursday. She begins coursework at SCC next year and said the nursing program has been a good stepping stone. Pending a passing grade during her certification test in January, Schwartz will walk through SCC’s doors for the first time having already earned the rank of nursing assistant.

But leaving is never easy. During the course of 24 hours’ worth of clinical experience with Oaklawn’s clients, Schwartz said she has become attached to the people she works with. She said she’s sorry to be leaving.

“There’s a lot more to learn than even I expected,” Schwartz said. “There are so many skills and you have to learn to communicate with clients. ... I’ll be sad to go.”