Academy student takes health lessons to community

Bellevue West senior Stephanie Purcell, a member of the UNMC Community Academy Health Science Careers Exploration Program, had been “around CPR,” as she said, for a number of years when she decided to make CPR training and other health information the focus of her DECA project at Bellevue West.

The health angle was a natural — Purcell has been a member of the Community Academy since 2011, and a member of the academy’s student advisory group since 2012.

Working with Bellevue West classmates Emily Romero and Caleb Ely, Purcell gathered representatives from the Bellevue Fire Department, the Bellevue Police Department and the Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness to participate in the Prepare Bellevue event, which was held Dec. 20.

She and her classmates were even featured on WOWT, promoting the event.

By the time the event ended, Purcell and others had trained more than 70 people in CPR.

Purcell said being a member of UNMC’s Community Academy has sharpened her interest in the medical field as she prepares to head off to college.

“I’ve learned a lot about how important any medical job is — even the smallest job you wouldn’t normally think of,” she said.

While that has made deciding on a definite career path a little trickier, it has also “made it clear that I do want to be in the medical field,” she said.

Lisa Jewell-Hardesty, director of the UNMC Youth Learning Center, reflected on Stephanie’s accomplishment.

“I am so proud of Stephanie getting this CPR training organized. But it doesn’t surprise me,” she said. “She is one of our seniors who consistently displays strength in leadership, is well respected by her peers, and leads through example by motivating and encouraging others.

“Over the years, she has been instrumental in assisting with programming for the UNMC Community Academy, a strong leader in the Student Advisory Group Executive Committee, and was an integral part in the development of our UNMC Health Occupations Students of America team. Stephanie is going to make a difference in this world — she already has.”

The UNMC Community Academy Health Science Careers Exploration Program was created to expose middle and high school students to careers in the health sciences. The program offers participants the opportunity to engage in lectures, presentations, and fun hands-on learning activities, which are conducted by UNMC faculty, staff, students, and community volunteers. For more information on the program, click here.