Took advantage of CCMS Pathway to pursue career as funeral director

Gracey Riffle, from Gibsonburg, Ohio, graduated from Gibsonburg High School in May of 2021. She grew up wanting to practice medicine and enjoyed learning about human anatomy; however, she was not sure what area she wanted to study. Upon graduating high school, she enrolled at a four-year institution, but after the first semester, she realized it was not the best for her. “Being at a four-year institution was too consuming. I spent too much time in class and studying for classes that I did not necessarily need. I wanted a college that would allow me to have the college experience of living on campus while providing me the flexibility and balance of school, work and life,” said Riffle.

Riffle soon enrolled at Terra State in January 2022, after she discovered that the College offers a fully online Pre-Mortuary Pathway degree with an earned seat to Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS) after graduating and had on campus housing at The Landings. “The transition to Terra State was super easy. Both the admissions department and my academic advisor helped assist me with transferring classes and walking me through the Pre-Mortuary Pathway degree so I could graduate in two years,” said Riffle.

“The best part of Terra State so far is earning my degree fully online,” says Riffle, “The classes are challenging; however, all of my professors have very thought-out lesson plans and provide multiple ways for us to learn the material. It is great knowing that my professors want to see me succeed in the classroom and put me on the best route for success within my pathway.”

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  DegreeMortuary Science Pathway
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  Employer

  Herman Funeral Homes & Crematory

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  Job TitleIntern, Attendant
 

Aside from going to school full-time, she is also interning as an attendant with Herman Funeral Homes & Crematory, working 40 to 60 hours a week at both their Gibsonburg and Fremont locations. Working as an intern and going to school full-time is very important to Riffle because it helped solidify her interest in mortuary science while helping her to receive real-world experience a student cannot get from the classroom. As an attendant, she watches over cremations and the embalming process and participates in both the visitation and church services.

“For anyone looking at studying Pre-Mortuary, I recommend they check out Terra State. One of the most important parts is that if I pass and graduate from Terra State, I will have an automatic seat at CCMS. Overall, the College provides a unique experience of being able to go to school fully online while also being able to intern/work full-time and still maintain an active social life on and off campus,” said Riffle.

Riffle will be graduating from Terra State in May 2023; upon graduation she wants to enroll at CCMS to receive her Bachelor of Mortuary Science. After CCMS, she wants to come back to the northwest Ohio area and work as a licensed funeral director, embalmer and crematory operator at a local funeral home.