LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The School of Southern Nevada is making state historical past by launching the first-ever funeral service program.
This system is designed to coach the following technology of pros who will information households by way of life’s most tough moments. Till now, Nevadans needed to exit of state for funeral service coaching. CSN’s new program adjustments that.
“To have a program on-site now that allows students to get educated, to get a job right after, it’s making the system a lot better for our city,” mentioned program director and teacher Dr. Raymond Louis Giddens Jr.
Dr. Giddens mentioned bringing this system in-state not solely cuts prices but in addition makes the profession path extra accessible. From funeral planning and embalming to grief counseling, college students are geared up with the talents, data, and compassion essential to serve households proper right here within the valley.
“The best funeral director is an educated funeral director and that’s what we teach our students as well too,” Giddens mentioned. “Families need to navigate wills, trusts, cemetery costs, veterans’ paperwork, so all these things that they’re piled up with at one time, you have a funeral director coming in, assisting them through that long process.”
The inaugural class has 11 college students.
“This is state history and honestly, I’m really honored to be able to do this and to be there for the families,” pupil Kristen Frye mentioned.
Frye is a funeral service assistant at Palm Mortuary and hopes to at some point turn out to be a funeral director.
“I already have a degree in anthropology from CSN. Anthropology and funeral service sort of go hand-in-hand,” Frye mentioned. “I wanted to incorporate my love of world religion, different cultures, and to help people at the same time.”
CSN’s new program has been almost eight years within the making.
“I’ve been waiting for it,” pupil Rochell Crenshaw mentioned. “When I heard the program was going to happen, I was eager.”
Crenshaw goals of opening her personal funeral dwelling at some point, specializing in companies for youngsters.
“Funeral services have always been a passion of mine,” Crenshaw mentioned. “Ever since I was 12 years old, I wanted to get involved in funeral services – assisting the families, assisting with the burial planning, and the celebration of life.”
Careers inside the funeral business are in excessive demand, together with embalmers, funeral managers, and funeral administrators. Salaries begin at round $62,000.
