COTC gives Hendershot opportunity to help others and raise children close to family

Megan Hendershot graduated from River View High School in 2004. She is now a professor at the COTC Coshocton Campus. Josie Sellers | Beacon

COSHOCTON – Megan Hendershot always knew that someday she would want to return home to Coshocton County.

“When I had kids I wanted to be able to raise them around family,” said the 2004 River View High School graduate.

Until that time came, she resided in Newark, where she moved to right after high school to attend Central Ohio Technical College and pursue a degree in nursing.

“When I was a junior at River View there was a program where you could shadow someone on the job and I went to the hospital and shadowed a nurse,” Hendershot said. “That made me think that I could do that so I did post secondary my senior year and two weeks after graduating from high school I started nursing school.”

While in school she took a position as a nurse’s aide at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“I fell in love with neonatal care,” Hendershot said.

She spent seven years in Newark, where she met her husband Ryan, who now teaches in Newcomerstown.

“We bought our first home and I returned back to school to receive my bachelor’s degree from Chamberlain University and my master’s degree in nursing education,” Megan said. “It was not long before we both realized that we would prefer to move back to Coshocton before having children. I started looking for a job closer to home and was given the opportunity to work at Genesis Healthcare in their newborn nursery and special care nursery.”

She greatly enjoyed helping bring babies into the world.

“There is nothing better in this world then watching new life be born and being able to be a part of it,” Megan said. “I’ll always love it and maybe someday go back to it when my kids are older.”

She and Ryan have three daughters, 5-year-old Halle, 3-year-old Taylin, and 10 month old Laiken.

“When I was pregnant with my first child I was presented the opportunity to start teaching full time with COTC at their branch campus in Coshocton,” Megan said. “I was scared and nervous to make such a huge career change but I loved the thought of having a great job so close to home.”

She has been full time at the school for six years now and prior to that spent three years as a clinical instructor for COTC.

“I am the only full time faculty member here at Coshocton,” Megan said. “I really love what I do and it gives me the flexibility to be a mom.”

Her title at COTC is assistant professor and she teaches the entire LPN program and parts of the LPN-RN transition program.

“I am blessed that I am able to give back to our community in a way that can change people’s lives,” Megan said. “I am thankful to COTC for giving me a career that allows me to balance a career with motherhood.”

She and her family enjoy spending time at Lake Park, swimming at the pool there, attending First Fridays and her girls take dance lessons at Miss. Jennifer’s, karate at McFarland’s Championship Martial Arts and participate in the Wednesday evening church program at Coshocton Christian Tabernacle. In addition to their full-time jobs, Megan and Ryan also own A-PLUS Mini Storage in Coshocton.

She would encourage other young professionals to give Coshocton a chance.

“We have a lot to offer here,” Megan said. “It’s a small tight knit community and I think we are trying to move in the right direction. The chamber of commerce is doing a lot to try and help make that happen. Plus it’s beautiful here.”

Editor’s note: The Beacon is working with the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce to highlight young professionals in the community.

Category: People & Places