After years of serving his country, Cameron Hardwick was ready for a new mission, and funding through the Central Workforce Development Region helped make it possible.
Cameron was discharged from the U.S. military in May 2023. Like many veterans navigating life after service, the transition was marked by real financial pressure. He took a full-time job in retail sales to keep things stable while he figured out his next steps. But Cameron had a bigger goal in mind: becoming a nurse.
In January 2024, he enrolled in the nursing program at State Fair Community College, thanks to assistance from his Central Region Job Center Case Manager, and made the difficult decision to drop to part-time work so he could attend school full-time. For nearly two years, he balanced the demands of a rigorous nursing curriculum with the responsibility of supporting his family.
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That balance was made a little easier thanks to multiple funding streams in the Central Region, including WIOA Dislocated Worker, MO Heroes Connect, Healthy Blue, and EDA Good Jobs Challenge. The support helped cover costs during his schooling, reducing the financial strain that so often forces students to slow down or stop altogether.
Cameron didn’t stop there. He graduated from the nursing program in December 2025 with an Associate Degree, and just one month later, earned his RN license in January 2026.
Today, Cameron Hardwick works full-time as a Registered Nurse for the University of Missouri and has more than doubled the wage he earned in retail.
“It was an absolute blessing to have the assistance from WIOA during my schooling. It helped alleviate a lot of stress for me and my family. I appreciate this program and all the help it provided.”