ICTC STUDENTS HELP SAVE LIVES

(October 24, 2008)...Health Occupations senior from Marion Center, Keisha Vallies, observes as Andrew Patterson, Digital Media Technology, Marion Center senior gets prepped by an American Red Cross worker to donate blood.

On Thursday, October 9, 2008 the students and staff of the Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC) and community members of Indiana County helped the Health Occupations students reach their goal with the American Red Cross blood drive. With the aid of fellow classmates, the blood drive was coordinated by Keisha Vallies, a Marion Center senior, who used the blood drive as her senior project.

The Red Cross works with over 50,000 sponsors yearly to hold more than 120,000 blood drives. Every pint of blood donated can save up to three lives. The ICTC donated a total of 65 usable units of blood. The goal for this year’s fall blood drive was 55 units of blood. A new guideline for giving blood could have been the reason that the students went well above their goal. According to Pennsylvania State Law, students with proper parental permission can now donate blood at the age of 16.

As an incentive to the students, the ICTC engaged in a contest. The program area that had the most student donors won a pizza party. Health Occupations Technology students were the winners of the pizza party with a total of 14 donors. In second place was Digital Media Technology with eight donors and Welding Technology took third place with seven donors. The second and third place program areas will receive cookies on behalf of the Health Occupations students.

The students of Health Occupations Technology are also busy raising money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life by making bracelets. The multi-colored, beaded bracelets have a color to represent each form of cancer. The students are selling the bracelets for $5.00 each to raise awareness about cancer and its various forms. Fifty percent of the money earned will be donated to the Relay for Life.

These hard-working Health Occupations students plan to participate in a community service project on November 2 at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Students will walk in the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk. According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), “the Kidney Walk is a non-competitive, fundraising walk focusing on education and prevention of kidney and urinary tract diseases, and awareness of the need for organ donation. The Kidney Walk presents an opportunity for family, friends, and colleagues to participate in an inspiring, community-based event which calls attention to the need for early detection of kidney disease while supporting NKF’s patient services, public and professional initiatives, and kidney research.” Kidney Walks are held all over the country from early spring until late fall.

Due to a growing shortage of health care workers, the ICTC has experienced an increase in student enrollment in Health Occupations. Mrs. Dianne Miller, Instructor commented, “It is very exciting and challenging for both the students and the faculty.”

Students in the Health Occupations program have the opportunity to receive hands-on experience as they attend clinical at area nursing homes. Students attend clinical on Tuesday and Wednesday starting in December. Those students who choose the Pharmacy Technician curriculum participate in clinical at Diamond Pharmacy Services. The clinical experience helps prepare students to take their Nurse Aide competency exam.

Student’s who work hard in the program area, see that it pays dividends as they enter the work force as a nurse aide or when they enter their post secondary education. These students have the experience of working with “real patients” so that they know health care is the career path that is right for them.

The Health Occupations Technology program area is under the direction of Dianne Miller, Instructor and Tara McClellan, Instructional Assistant. For more updates on activities that these students are participating in and much more, please visit the ICTC website at www.ictc.ws .

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