Career-Focused Program Offerings

The Howley ASPIRE Pathways is an enrichment experience sponsored by The Cleveland Clinic and The Howley Foundation in collaboration with Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University-Ashtabula. The program is designed for high school juniors who are interested in exploring career options in respiratory therapy, sterile processing, and surgical technology.

The Howley ASPIRE Program provides participants with career information and critical skill sets to support their matriculation through high school, higher education, and beyond.

A stipend is awarded upon successful completion of the program. Eligible participants are invited to return for a second year as program mentors and to build on the foundation of skills and concepts learned in junior year. Eligible seniors could earn a scholarship to attend Cuyahoga Community College for Surgical Technology or Kent State University for Respiratory Therapy to complete a 2-year degree or receive on-the-job training and certification in Sterile Processing from The Cleveland Clinic.

Participants will experience and learn about:

• Exploration of respiratory therapy
• Exploration of sterile processing
• Exploration of surgical technology
• CPR certification/Heart Saver and Mock Code
• Shadow and hands-on experiences
• College and on-the-Job Training
• Collaboration with experts in healthcare
• Advanced medical training equipment

Participant Eligibility:

• Be a U.S. Citizen, non-citizen national, or legal permanent resident
• Enrolled in eleventh grade during the current academic year
• Earned cumulative GPA of 2.5+ on a 4.0 scale, as demonstrated by an official transcript
• Demonstrate financial need
• Ability to attend and provide transportation for all program sessions
  

Application deadline is Sunday, October 11th, 2026. Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for participation. Learn more at clevelandclinic.org/ASPIRE. For questions or for more information please email: ASPIRE@ccf.org.

The Howley ASPIRE Nurse Scholars Program is an enrichment experience sponsored by The Cleveland Clinic and The Howley Foundation in collaboration with Ursuline College Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions. The program is designed for high school juniors interested in pursuing a career in nursing.

The Howley ASPIRE Program provides participants with career information and critical skill sets to support their matriculation through higher education, nursing school, and beyond.

A stipend will be awarded upon successful completion of the junior program. Eligible participants are invited to return during their senior year to build on the foundation of skills and concepts learned in junior year. Returning seniors could receive a scholarship to attend our program academic partner to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The current academic partner of the Howley ASPIRE Nurse Scholars Program is Ursuline College.

The program offers instruction to high school students to develop their understanding of nursing careers at The Cleveland Clinic. Participants will experience and learn about:

• The profession of nursing
• Relationship-based care
• Simulation skills lab
• Health literacy and barriers to care
• CPR certification
• Nursing and the community
• Research and evidence-based practice
• Professional communication, personal brand, and presentation skills

Participant Eligibility

• Be a U.S. Citizen, non-citizen national, or legal permanent resident
• Enrolled in eleventh grade during the current academic year
• Earned cumulative GPA of 3.0+ on a 4.0 scale, as demonstrated by an official transcript
• Demonstrate financial need
• Ability to attend and provide transportation for all program sessions
  

Application deadline is Sunday, October 11th, 2026. Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for participation. Learn more at clevelandclinic.org/ASPIRE. For questions or for more information please email: ASPIRE@ccf.org.