From a young age, Merritt Killian knew he wanted to help others. Early exposure to healthcare came during visits to the nursing home where his mother worked as a nursing supervisor, while his father was deployed with the Air Force. “It was really my first experience being surrounded by people who needed care,” he shared. “It planted the seed that I wanted to help people and be there for them when others weren’t.”

Sydnye Lawson’s journey hasn’t followed a straight path—but it’s one defined by resilience, determination, and a drive to do more with her life. Raised in Davie County in a family rooted in community service—her dad, Andy Lawson, is a firefighter in Farmington and her mom, Sharon Myers, a school nurse—Lawson is now preparing to graduate from Davidson-Davie Community College with a degree in Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology and her Class A Commercial Driver’s License. And she says none of it would have been possible without IGNITE DAVIE.

Since its founding in Winston-Salem in the 1880s, Novant Health has grown to become a pillar of healthcare excellence in North Carolina.

Transformative community partnerships continue to shape Novant Health’s legacy of high-quality healthcare today. In the heart of Davie County, Novant Health is forging a path toward a healthier future through its partnership with the IGNITE DAVIE College Promise program (IGNITE DAVIE). This collaboration is rooted in a shared commitment to education and community empowerment.

The IGNITE DAVIE College Promise program is significantly impacting local students’ lives, providing them with the opportunity to pursue higher education and successful careers. Two shining examples of the program’s success are Antonia Montano and Hannah Morgan, who earned their Dental Assistant accreditation through the IGNITE DAVIE program at Davidson-Davie Community College (DDCC). Dr. Andrew Rivers swiftly hired both at Rivers Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, where they have been eager to contribute to the local practice.