A Future of Impact: Maya Humpal
Maya Humpal expected to learn clinical skills during her CNA training. What she didn't expect was how quickly the residents would teach her something in return.
They wanted to talk. They wanted to share stories. Most of all, they welcomed the chance to build new relationships. In those moments, Maya began to understand that healthcare is as much about connection as it is about care.
Maya first encountered Western Home Communities through the Cedar Falls CAPS program, where she enrolled in Learn & Earn and gained her first hands-on experience in healthcare. For three class periods each day, she completed Hawkeye Community College coursework, then stepped directly into clinicals at Western Home. The proximity mattered. It meant she could pursue her CNA without sacrificing her existing job or leaving the community she loves.
What she found inside clinicals surprised her. Residents connected with her immediately, eager to talk and eager to share. “Just being present brings a light to their day,” she reflected. She discovered that the role of a CNA, often overlooked, is a behind-the-scenes lifeline for emotional well-being.
Part of Maya's preparation extended beyond Western Home's walls. Through the program, she visited the Dementia Simulation House at the University of Northern Iowa, where UNI students guided participants through a series of sensory and cognitive challenges designed to reflect some of the realities of living with dementia.
Following the simulation, the UNI students led a discussion about the experience. The words that surfaced were immediate and emotional: noisy, confusing, lost, anxious, chaotic, overwhelmed, foggy and challenging.
For Maya, the experience offered a deeper understanding of what residents and their families may face each day. It gave context to the challenges she would encounter as a caregiver and deepened her appreciation for the importance of empathy in healthcare.
Western Home’s environment allowed her to “jump in” and learn by doing. She practiced communication, learned to navigate a proper work environment and built confidence through hands-on tasks that made her feel capable and trusted. Those experiences didn’t just teach her skills. They clarified her future. By the time she graduated, she knew she wanted to pursue a healthcare-focused major at the University of Northern Iowa in Fall 2026.
What began as a high school opportunity quickly became something larger. In many ways, Maya's story represents the future community leaders have been working toward for years. Her path began in a local classroom, continued through hands-on experience at Western Home Communities and now leads to the University of Northern Iowa, where she will prepare for a career in healthcare.
Each step was made possible by organizations working together to create opportunities for students to explore healthcare close to home. Maya is not simply choosing a major. She is building on experiences that revealed both her purpose and her potential.
For Maya, staying local isn’t a limitation; it’s a strength. Cedar Falls Schools, Hawkeye Community College, UNI and Western Home Communities form a close-knit ecosystem that allows students to explore, grow and step into meaningful roles without leaving their support systems behind. That continuity gave Maya the confidence to stretch professionally while staying rooted personally.
The impact of students like Maya is felt immediately. Staff notice residents are more energized on days when students are present, excited for conversation, eager for connection and grateful for the youthful energy that filled the halls. It’s a reciprocal relationship: students gain real-world maturity and professional readiness, while Western Home gains compassionate hands and fresh enthusiasm in a field that urgently needs both.
Maya now encourages other students to explore healthcare early. She believes programs like Learn & Earn give young people a “good eye to the future,” helping them make informed decisions before investing time and money into college. And she is quick to remind donors and community supporters that their contributions don’t just fund classes. They build pathways, confidence and futures.
This fall, as Maya takes her next steps at the University of Northern Iowa, she will carry with her the experiences, relationships and confidence made possible by a community working together to support students close to home. Her journey reflects what can happen when schools, colleges, healthcare providers and community organizations work together to prepare the next generation to serve. For Maya, that future has already begun.
