This June, we want to honor all of the fathers who support our students at Galen College of Nursing, as well as those who are students themselves. Whether you are working long night shifts or offering steady encouragement along the way, your impact does not go unnoticed. You play a vital role in helping our students achieve their dreams.

For some students, their fathers are also the reason they chose Galen in the first place.

That is certainly true for Riley and Carson Mingus, who are set to begin their journey at Galen’s Louisville campus this September.

“It’s been beautiful, really. It’s something we took for granted, I think, as children, but it was always just part of our lives,” said Riley.

In 2005, Carson and Riley’s parents, Chad and Mary, graduated from Galen College of Nursing. The two met in nursing school, and the rest was history.

“They met very quickly, the second or third class, is what they said, and just hit it off,” Riley recalled. “They started dating, and a couple months later, my mom moved in with him. They studied together, built friendships, and found a community. One of their best friends, Amy, we still see to this day. We’ve grown up with her children.”

Growing up, Carson and Riley heard countless stories about their parents’ time at Galen. Their mom went on to become a bedside nurse and now works in case management for Humana. Their dad, Chad, built a career as an implant coordinator at the VA hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, dedicated to helping patients every day.

It was through watching their dad’s compassion, commitment, and impact that the siblings found their own inspiration.

“Seeing him work and help people, it just stuck with us,” Riley shared. “I feel like if we end up where he is, we’re going to be good. I love my dad. We’re really close, and I’m glad I have him to look up to as a role model as I get older.”

When it came time to choose a career path, the decision felt natural.

Carson and Riley submitted their applications to Galen together, supporting each other every step of the way.

“There are so many options for your nursing education,” Carson said, “but knowing that they went there and hearing about the experience they had, we wanted that too.”

As they prepare to follow in their parents’ footsteps, and especially their father’s, Carson and Riley carry forward a legacy rooted in care, dedication, and family.

This Father’s Day, we celebrate fathers like Chad. Those who lead by example, inspire through action, and quietly shape the future through the lives they touch. From long shifts at the hospital to the values passed down at home, their influence reaches far beyond their own careers.

For Carson and Riley, their dad’s dedication to nursing didn’t just leave an impression, it helped define their path. As they begin their own journeys at Galen, they carry with them the lessons, compassion, and work ethic he modeled every day. It is a powerful reminder that the impact of a father can last a lifetime, guiding the next generation to serve, care, and make a difference in the world.