FCHS’s Hardy wins first Spirit Award for Work-Based Learning

Ariah Hardy, a senior at Fayette County High, is the inaugural recipient of the Dolores Hardison-Hayes Spirit Award for the Georgia Work-Based Learning Northwest Region. 

The award is presented to a deserving Work-Based Learning (WBL) student who exemplifies excellence in leadership, community service, grades, and adhering to WBL guidelines and standards. 

Ariah has completed the healthcare pathway and earned her Certified Medical Assistant designation. She is currently completing a 2nd healthcare pathway – Certified Nursing Assistant. Ariah’s career plan is in nursing with a focus on maternal and newborn care. She is currently participating in a WBL internship at Piedmont Fayette Hospital in the Family Care Center unit. 

She is a member of the Beta Club and also serves as President of the Black Student Union and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapters at her school. She has also served as a summer volunteer at Piedmont Fayette Hospital and volunteers at many community events, including Bloom Closet, Alzheimer’s Walk, and the Cub Run 5k. 

“Through my WBL internship at Piedmont Fayette Hospital I have learned how fast-paced the environment is and how important it is to pay attention to detail. I have seen how much teamwork goes into caring for patients and how every role matters,” said Hardy. “I see how big of an impact nurses can make. It also gives me a real picture of the challenges, such as long hours and stressful situations. Those challenges make me even more certain that nursing is the right path for me. Without WBL, I don’t think I would have had the same direction or the same opportunities to grow in the medical field.” 

As a factory worker for Locked Martin – NASA division, Dolores Hardison-Hayes noticed that from the mid-1960s to the 1980s that public high schools were eliminating vocational education from its curriculum choices for students. She advocated with legislators to encourage students who are not prepared for or don’t want to go to college. She saw the need for communities to have young skilled workers and how it would impact their communities in the future. 

Her family members are honoring her legacy through the Dolores Hardison-Hayes Spirit Award for the Georgia WBL Northwest Region. The award will spotlight a student each month who has done the best at adhering to WBL guidelines and overall school standards. 

The award is an opportunity to celebrate the impact of WBL and honor students who demonstrate excellence in their WBL programs, schools, and communities. All monthly awardees will be entered into the final selection in May 2026, where three students will be chosen to receive $5,000 scholarships each.