All three graduated from the nursing program at Northcentral Technical College (NTC): Lori in 2006, Madeleine in 2019 and Maxwell in December 2025. But their connections to the field and to the College run even deeper. Lori’s aunt is a nurse, her mom was a certified nursing assistant (CNA), and her sister also graduated from the nursing program at NTC.  

“Nursing and serving others is kind of a part of our bloodline,” Lori said.  

As the eldest sibling, Madeleine was the first to follow in her mom’s footsteps.  

“I remember, growing up seeing my mom be a nurse, she never complained about going to work,” she said. “She really enjoyed doing what she did.”  

She was also inspired to pursue a career in nursing through field trips she took as a child to sing Christmas carols at local nursing homes during the holidays.  

“I really enjoyed doing that,” she said. “I remember having a lot of empathy for the people [living there] and wanting to make a difference for them, and nursing was a way to help care for people.”  

Maxwell originally planned on being a chiropractor, but partway through his program, he realized he wanted to help people in a different way.  

“I shadowed both of them, and I was able to see how they impacted people,” he said.  

He especially connected with the work his sister did as a nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU), and he decided to go into the critical care field as well.  

As a mom, Lori did not push her children to attend NTC; she wanted them to be able to make their own decisions. However, as a graduate of the program and knowing how much she got out of it, she hoped they would.  

“It really prepared me, and I believe Madeleine and Maxwell, to get out there and get into the field knowing what you’re doing,” she said. “You’re going to have questions, and you’re always going to be learning new things, but NTC really prepares you, and you’ll be confident in your abilities.”  

Madeleine initially planned to attend a different institution, but after doing her own research and considering her options, she realized NTC made the most sense for her. It was close to home, which allowed her to stay near her family, something very important to her. The cost was lower, and the offerings of the program were hard to beat.  

“I ended up deciding to come here, and I definitely do not regret that decision at all,” she said.  

One of the things she loved about the program was that the students complete their clinicals in the area, likely at a hospital they’d end up working at one day. Many of the nurses who graduate from NTC stay local, which Madeleine has experienced.  

“It’s really cool; in the unit where I work, there are eight of us that graduated from NTC,” she said. “We’ve known each other for seven years now and have made it through all the challenges together.”  

Lori is a cardiac nurse, and both Madeleine and Maxwell are nurses in the ICU. The two siblings will even be coworkers, working in the same unit in the same hospital. He was a CNA in the unit, was hired as a nurse technician six months ago, and was then offered a position as a nurse.  

“We’ve taken care of patients together, and we’ve had times where patients say something about how we’re similar,” Maxwell said. “One of us will be like, actually it’s because we’re siblings! And people will be like, oh my gosh, no way.”  

Part of completing the nursing program includes a pinning ceremony. Madeleine was pinned by her mom, and when it was Maxwell’s turn, he couldn’t choose just one, so he was able to have both his mom and sister pin him.  

“Both made an impact on me, and both supported me,” he said. “I just couldn’t choose between them.”  

Lori said she is incredibly proud of both of her children.  

“It’s deeply rewarding to me to see that my two children have followed in my path,” she said. “I know they make such an impact on the patients and their families.”  

It’s important to all three Helkes that they are able to work in and serve the community they grew up in. 

“A lot of people don’t get to go to their jobs and feel fulfilled to their core each day,” Madeleine said. “We have an impact on people’s lives, and they remember you. It’s a really cool thing that we all get to experience it together. "