Gov. Kim Reynolds announced eight recipients of the Iowa Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Grant Program.?The awards, totaling $2.45 million, were made using federal funds that Iowa received through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The registered apprenticeship program, based on the Nursing/Patient Care program at the Career Academy of Pella, follows an innovative learning model that introduces health care opportunities to high school students with the support of virtual reality training and real-world work experience with a local nursing facility and hospital.?The grants will serve 22 school districts, among them Des Moines, Interstate 35, Johnston and Waukee, to fund about 450 apprentices in total. Sixteen of the districts will have their first-ever registered apprenticeship programs. The announcement includes an investment in virtual reality technology for training through the health care-related registered apprenticeship programs. “In recognition that the healthcare field remains at the top of the list of Iowa’s current job openings, today’s announcement represents an innovative opportunity to build and train our future healthcare workforce,” Reynolds said in a press release. “Not only will this registered apprenticeship program combine the best available technology with hands-on experiences for high school students, but it will create long-term pathways that help keep career-ready young Iowans in our state.”