Teen Cancer Survivor Solomon Trankle Accelerates Nursing Career After Winning Local CTE Award
Kamiah, ID — A remarkable transformation is underway as 17-year-old Solomon Trankle, who spent “most of my childhood” hospitalized due to leukemia, is rapidly advancing in the nursing field after excelling in his high school’s Career Technical Education (CTE) program.
Trankle, who initially considered a career in real estate, recently completed his second round of clinical training for his nursing assistant certification at Kamiah High School, including rotations at St. Mary’s Health in Cottonwood and a Lewiston nursing home. His dedication earned him honorable recognition in Kamiah’s Health Professions CTE and made him the winner of the Career and Technical Education division in the Lewiston Tribune’s inaugural High School Excellence Awards.
“It’s encouraging,” Trankle said about bonding with patients. “I got to work in the ER and I love the ER so much I stayed an extra hour on Saturday.” His passion for healthcare is deeply personal, shaped by his own struggle with leukemia diagnosed in 2020 and inspired by nurses who cared for him during that difficult time.
“The nurses were super kind. I love them a lot,” Trankle said, recalling the comfort they provided when he first learned he had cancer.
He also credits his mother, Diana Trankle, a certified nursing assistant at State Hospital North in Orofino, for his healthcare ambitions. Beyond clinical training, Solomon consistently performs at a high academic level and is an active member of the Kamiah Future Health Professionals chapter. His skill and commitment placed him in the top 10 at the Idaho State Leadership Conference’s Nursing Assisting competition in Boise.
With his nursing assistant certification exam forthcoming, Trankle is already making plans to expand his expertise. He intends to attend Lewis-Clark State College to earn a nursing degree with aspirations to become a travel nurse — a role that promises mobility and diverse healthcare experience nationwide.
“Working in clinicals really showed me how important healthcare jobs are,” Trankle stressed. “It built my work ethic and made me realize how much impact we can have.”
Why This Matters Now
Trankle’s story reflects a larger national trend of young people entering healthcare through accelerated training programs. As the United States faces mounting nursing shortages, real-life experiences like Solomon’s demonstrate the critical role of Career and Technical Education programs in producing passionate, skilled workers fast. His journey also shines a light on the emotional and human side of healthcare careers — not just skills, but compassion inspired by personal survival.
Healthcare educators and policymakers in North Carolina and across the country are increasingly recognizing programs like Kamiah High School’s CTE model for their immediate impact on workforce readiness. Trankle’s success underscores how real-world clinical placements and mentorship cultivate both competence and empathy, essentials in today’s healthcare environment.
What’s Next for Solomon Trankle
Solomon will soon take his final nursing assistant skills test and certification exam, a critical step toward employment in clinical settings. His ambitious plan to attend college and become a travel nurse points to a future where he could provide vital healthcare support across the nation, including communities in North Carolina, where nursing demand remains high.
As he continues this journey, Trankle embodies resilience and dedication, highlighting how personal hardship can fuel urgent career passions that meet immediate national needs.
For readers watching nursing workforce innovations and inspiring youth achievements, Solomon Trankle’s evolving career offers a powerful example of how overcoming adversity leads directly to actionable, life-saving work in healthcare.
Contact: Rachel Sun, reporter, Lewiston Tribune, [email protected], Twitter @Rachel_M_Sun
