Ava Riley Connects the Classroom to the Clinic to Secure Her Future in Nursing

"Walking into high school, I didn't really know what I wanted to do following graduation, but I did know I wanted to go into the medical field in some way. I chose the biomedical pathway just because I knew that I would get hands-on experience in science labs and just explore different parts of the medical field."

When Ava Riley first arrived at Ballard High School, she possessed a general curiosity about medicine but lacked a specific map to guide her ambitions. Rather than leaving that interest abstract until college, Ava utilized the STEM Academy’s Biomedical Sciences pathway to systematically test and refine her goals. 

Inside Ballard's classrooms, Ava mastered advanced concepts in biology, anatomy, and physiology. Rather than simply absorbing passive lectures, she and her peers operated like real-world clinical researchers—collaborating in teams to design grants, write extensive scientific research papers, and present their findings to classmates and mentors. This rigorous, hands-on immersive laboratory environment allowed her to successfully turn a broad interest in healthcare into a highly specific, passionate career trajectory: becoming a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse. 

The Precision of a Norton Scholar

Ava’s specialized trajectory shifted into high gear during her junior year when she applied for and secured a coveted position as a Norton Healthcare Scholar. This opportunity is part of a transformative partnership between Norton Healthcare and the Academies of Louisville, designed to combat regional workforce shortages by embedding high school students directly into active medical environments. Through this initiative, students are exposed to high-demand healthcare careers early, receiving specialized instruction and hands-on clinical training.

For Ava, that meant navigating a rigorous interview process with a Norton Healthcare career coach followed by an intensive clinical training program designed to bridge the gap between student and healthcare professional.

"They taught me how to take vital signs, how to interact with patients, how to change beds, and how to do baths," Ava explains.

By August of her senior year, Ava was putting those skills to use on the units at Norton Women & Children’s Hospital. Working directly within an active hospital ecosystem allowed her to demystify clinical operations long before earning a college degree.

"We help on the unit in any way we can," Ava says. "It's been really beneficial to help me learn what I want to do moving forward and just get into a medical hospital before I have really gotten the education through college."

Validating the Classroom in the Real World

The true power of the academy model crystallized for Ava when she realized her daily hospital duties were a direct reflection of her sophomore coursework. The textbook diagrams she studied in her classes at Ballard became the breathing, real-world patients she cared for during her shifts.

"One of the most formative experiences has actually been taking what I've learned in the classroom and taking it with me into the hospital," Ava shares. "My sophomore year class through the pathway was Human Body Systems, and we learned about all of the different systems of the body and vital signs. Then I was able to go into the hospital and use what I learned in the classroom and put that into practice. It has just been so rewarding... it kind of gives meaning to what we do in class every day, which is really amazing."

This profound connection between theory and practice has given Ava a distinct competitive edge as she looks toward her postsecondary education.

Ava and Fellow Biomed Student Grace

A Seamless Medical Launch

With her high school graduation secured, Ava’s next professional milestone is already locked in. This fall, she is heading to the University of Kentucky to study nursing, with the ultimate career goal of becoming a specialized NICU nurse.

To power this ambition, Ava has strategically aligned her future with the financial and structural support of her residency network, applying for the Norton Scholars Tuition Assistance Program to fund her undergraduate nursing coursework. This pipeline exemplifies how the Academies of Louisville partnership acts as a long-term career catalyst, offering tuition assistance and a direct path to employment within the Norton Healthcare system after graduation. Her goal is to seamlessly transition from her studies straight onto the floor at UK’s hospital or wherever she can make the greatest clinical impact.

Leaving Ballard High School with three years of laboratory experience, an elite hospital credential, and a clear path toward pediatric medicine, Ava stands as a premier example of how early opportunity breeds unshakeable confidence. For future students considering their options, her advice is direct, simple, and proven by her own success.

"Just do biomed," Ava smiles. "It's great."