Service Learning: Students Serving the Community

Courtney Willis knows that timing is everything. In 2010, she and her husband, Josh, were in Uganda adopting their son, Owen, when another child at the orphanage forever changed the trajectory of their lives.

In contrast to Owen’s healthy glow and bright future, Regan was gravely ill. The nurse told them that this little boy would likely die because they did not have the medication he needed to survive.

“Regan had pneumonia, and the doctor had prescribed Rocephin, but the orphanage was unable to get that antibiotic,” Courtney explained. “We were surprised that Regan was suffering from a health issue that could so easily be treated in America. At the time, Josh was working in a pediatric clinic. Before we left the U.S., he asked the clinic owners if he could take Rocephin vials that were close to the expiration date to aid others.”

It was perfect timing. Courtney and Josh had the medication that could save Regan’s life. He recovered, and as a result the couple founded Mission Regan, a nonprofit that redistributes medical supplies locally and globally to more than 80 countries.

For many years, Courtney dedicated her life to her family and their charitable organization, but she yearned to be on the front line helping patients.

Courtney’s turn

“I have wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember,” Courtney said. “I started my nursing prerequisite classes at Collin College 25 years ago, but then I made the decision to focus on my family, and my husband finished his education first. Nursing school would not be an option for me if it weren’t for Collin. My husband is a firefighter, and we can’t afford to pay for an expensive education. My kids are older now, and it is my turn to go to school.”

Today, Courtney is pursuing her associate degree in nursing at Collin and plans to earn a bachelor’s degree. She appreciates the program’s hands-on opportunities and the Service Learning program, which offers students the opportunity to acquire experiential learning as they serve the community.

“It is so busy in nursing school, but Service Learning forces us to see the need and to help the community around us,” said Courtney, who values the program as a student and as a nonprofit founder. “The need for medical supplies has increased with COVID-19 and people losing their jobs. In 2021, Mission Regan provided supplies which were valued at more than $2.5 million. We already surpassed that number in June of 2022. It is a huge blessing to have nursing students volunteer because they have medical knowledge others don’t have, and they understand details like why there are so many different sizes of ostomy supplies.”

Perfect timing

Courtney has come full circle. A nurse extern at Medical City McKinney, she recalls interning at the hospital in a high school leadership program.

“With my Collin College nursing degree, I will finally be able to contribute to my family financially and use that knowledge and skillset all over the world,” Courtney said. “I’m really excited about that.”