Your Future at South College Asheville
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina is known for its artistic spirit, outdoor beauty, and independent charm. But for South College, Asheville represents something even more meaningful: a long-standing campus filled with grit, community, and thousands of stories from students carving out their futures in healthcare and beyond.
In this special on-location episode of Live From South College, host Kathleen Stockham takes readers and listeners through real classrooms, labs, hallways, and lounge spaces—capturing unfiltered conversations with radiography, BSN, PA, PTA, and LPN students, as well as student success advisors and campus leadership. What emerges is a picture of a campus powered by dedication, human connection, and a fierce commitment to serving the region.
LIVE FROM ASHEVILLE: Inside One of South College’s Most Historic and Heartfelt Campuses
Radiography Students: Physics, Positioning, and the Power of Persistence
The day begins inside a lively radiography classroom, buzzing with second-quarter students who have already formed a tight-knit cohort. Across every interview, one theme is clear: physics is the shared nemesis.
- Avery laughs about the struggle.
- Kara, wearing a Savannah Bananas shirt, admits positioning is her favorite part—even if physics isn’t.
- Camille calls physics “a nightmare sometimes,” but is proud she’s pushing through.
- Several students discovered South College through simple online searches—proof that South College’s digital presence is reaching the right audience.
- A few students commute more than an hour and a half from Tennessee—choosing Asheville because of the program’s reputation, structure, and outcomes.
Many students dream of working in hospitals, outpatient facilities, or traveling positions. Some even imagine practicing radiography internationally as part of medical humanitarian work.
BSN Students: Determination Through the Hardest Quarters
Nursing students at Asheville confirmed a universal truth: second quarter is no joke.
Students like Christy, Kara, Lauren, and Sherry share why they chose nursing—commitment to care, personal calling, family influence, or lifelong dreams. Even the first-term students are already balancing self-motivation with fear of the unknown.
Clinical rotations, though intimidating at first, spark excitement and give nursing students their first real window into the profession. Many are exploring specialties ranging from labor and delivery to cardiology, ER trauma, and psych.
What’s remarkable is how many students found South College the same way: Google searches, word of mouth, or driving past the campus. Once inside, the close community sealed the deal.
The Student Lounge: Real Conversations, Real Journeys
In the lounge, nursing and radiography students alike talk openly about balancing family, work, and education.
One radiography student who returned to school later in life shares that getting back into academic routines—and adjusting to new technology—was a major hurdle. But South College’s structure and support helped her regain confidence.
A first-quarter nursing student expresses deep appreciation for how kind and helpful everyone has been. Her mantra:
“When you get scared, tell yourself: I can do this.”
Student Success Advisors: The People Behind the Students
Two members of the Asheville Student Services team—Tyler and Alicia—offer insight into the support system that holds the campus together.
Their advice:
- Ask for help early and often.
- Communication doesn’t always have to be face-to-face—texts and emails count.
- Advisors help students structure class schedules around work and family obligations.
- No matter your starting point, South College creates an environment where you can find belonging.
Their mission is simple: help students succeed and ensure they never feel alone in the journey.
PA Students: A Tribe of Future Providers
The Asheville PA students—nicknamed “the tribe”—interviewed over lunch share a clear message: PA school is hard, fast-paced, and completely worth it.
Across the third-quarter cohort:
- Many discovered South College while searching for programs in Appalachia or on the East Coast.
- Most worked in dermatology, ER, neurology, urology, phlebotomy, or ICU roles before applying.
- Their career goals span trauma, pediatrics, derm, family medicine, gynecologic oncology, urgent care, GI, and rural primary care.
For most, choosing PA came down to:
- More flexibility than MD programs
- Stronger work–life balance
- Ability to specialize or switch fields
- Meaningful patient interaction
Their biggest challenge?
Time management. Constant studying. Maintaining a tiny sliver of a personal life.
Their joy?
Friendships, Asheville’s food scene, and Thursday pickleball nights.
PTA Students: Driven to Help People Move Again
In the physical therapist assistant program, fifth-quarter students share wisdom shaped by hands-on experience.
Claire loves watching patients progress and regain independence. Chelsea talks honestly about mental resilience—reminding new students that a bad grade doesn’t define them.
Both highlight that PTA requires commitment, empathy, and the willingness to get deeply involved in a patient’s physical and emotional healing.
LPN Students: Foundations, Family, and Fierce Determination
Fourth-quarter LPN students Destiny and Kayleen round out the student stories with two powerful perspectives:
- Destiny is a seasoned CNA and MA building toward RN and BSN pathways.
- Kayleen is due to give birth in just days yet remains committed to finishing the program—showing extraordinary resilience and dedication.
Both emphasize the importance of choosing LPN as a launch point into healthcare and praise South College for its supportive environment and small class sizes.
Campus Leadership: Hope, Progress, and a Community That Shows Up
Finally, Kathleen sits down with Campus President Dr. Samantha Sircey and Dean of Academic & Student Services Dr. Katie Thomas for a dynamic conversation about Asheville’s growth, its people, and its future.
A Campus Rooted in Community
Dr. Sircey describes Asheville as a place where people want to build better lives—and South College serves as a bridge to those opportunities. She emphasizes:
- A campus culture built on warmth, inclusion, and personal support
- A motivated faculty who know students by name
- A growing desire to serve Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina
Dr. Thomas underscores the same themes:
South College Asheville attracts students who want belonging, mentorship, and a direct pathway into meaningful healthcare careers.
The Storm That Changed Everything
In one of the most gripping moments, Dr. Sircey recounts surviving the once-in-a-generation hurricane and flooding last year—cut off from communication, surrounded by devastated neighborhoods, and witnessing profound loss.
Her story reflects the resilience of the Asheville community and the empathy that underpins campus leadership.
Powerful New Technology
The campus also houses an AI-enabled high-fidelity patient simulator—a cloud-connected mannequin that:
- Speaks with natural responses
- Mimics real patient scenarios
- Helps students practice with lifelike emotional and clinical situations
It represents a major investment in preparing students for modern healthcare.
Looking Forward
Both leaders are committed to:
- Increasing enrollment
- Strengthening community partnerships
- Ensuring every graduate leaves clinically excellent and ready to serve
- Further promoting South College as a recognized, respected name across the mountains
Final Thoughts: Why Students Choose Asheville—and Why It Works
From the first-quarter student repeating “I can do this,” to the PA students forming lifelong bonds, to the president navigating community tragedy with hope, this campus is more than classrooms and labs.
It is:
- A home
- A launchpad
- A family
- A place where students rediscover what they’re capable of
South College Asheville thrives because the people within it believe in each other—deeply, authentically, and wholeheartedly.