Three minority students in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Community Academy recently received the 2008 Outstanding Youth Volunteer award in the group category through the United Way of the Midlands.
African Americans Ehiamen Okoruwa and Alexis Dickerson and Native American, Aunum Akhter, were nominated by Lisa Jewell, director of the UNMC Youth Learning Center in the Office of Student Services, for their ability to “inspire by example.”
“Each one of them leads through their actions,” wrote Jewell in her nomination letter. “They demonstrate strong leadership skills by being good listeners and motivating and encouraging others to do their best. They come to each session eager to participate and share their perspectives on what is being discussed.”
Okoruwa, Dickerson and Akhter served as members of the student advisory group within the Community Academy, a free, year-round program to expose teenagers in 8th-12th grade to career opportunities in health care.
“Nearly 1,000 students have come through our hands-on program, now in its ninth year,” Jewell said. “Some of them are now roaming the halls as medical students at UNMC.”
Okoruwa, co-president of the academy along with Akhter, said the students participated in Project Hope and Compassion in Action for at-risk youths whose parents are incarcerated. The students also organized activities and helped plan program sessions, which are held the third Saturday of each month, for their fellow academy members.
Okoruwa, 17, has been participating in the Academy since junior high.
“In everything we do, we’re not looking for awards, so this is really quite an honor,” she said. “It’s been wonderful being in the program; I’ve learned a lot from it.”
Okoruwa, who graduated from Marian High School this spring, plans to study biology at Washington University in St. Louis this fall. She is interested in a career in pediatrics.
Dickerson will be a junior at Central High School next year. She got involved with the Community Academy three years ago and dreams of becoming a heart surgeon.
“The Community Academy has helped me to gain a better understanding of what going into medical field is all about,” she said. “It also helps me to be more active in the community and make new friends.”
Akhter, a 17-year-old senior at Millard North High School, also will major in biology. She plans to attend Creighton University and is interested in a career in pediatrics, dermatology or research.
While she is grateful to have received the award for volunteer of the year, she has gained much more from the academy over the years.
“Giving back to the community is one of the greatest rewards a person can get,” she said. “I would encourage others to volunteer. Not only do you grow as a person, but you’re doing something amazing for the people around you.”
For more information on the Community Academy, contact Jewell at (402) 559-6357. Applications for the fall are now being accepted.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $80 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.