The family of Plattsmouth, Neb., native, Alvin B. Rakow, has made a
$50,000 gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to establish a scholarship
fund in his memory at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The gift
creates a fund to provide an annual scholarship to a senior medical technology
student in the UNMC School of Allied Health Professions.
Rakow spent his entire career with the American Red Cross, working his
way up to an executive position at the national headquarters in Washington,
D.C. After retiring, he lived in Florida until his death in May 2000.
The Rakow family chose to support UNMC because of the good care Rakow
received there as a child when he was treated at age 12 for Legg-Calve-Perthes
disease, a disorder involving the upper thigh bone known as the femur.
He was always very grateful for the excellent care he received from
the UNMC staff, said Rakows sister, Carol L. Seitzer of Grand Island,
Neb. Seitzers daughter, Elaine Hostler, graduated from the UNMC medical
technology program and is currently a medical technologist at the Grand
Island VA Medical Center.
Because of my daughters training, we have become very aware of the
key role played by medical technologists, Seitzer said. Medical technologists
literally support all other areas of medicine. They are responsible for
testing and providing doctors with results to make decisions.
Medical technologists work behind the scenes, and few people know the
role they play in medicine, said Phyllis Muellenberg, director and chair
of the UNMC medical technology program. The Rakow family knows the importance
of this career, and this gift will allow us to help meet the growing demand
for medical technologists.
The University of Nebraska Foundation is a nonprofit corporation supplementing
support for students, faculty, facilities and programs at the University
of Nebraskas four campuses through gifts from alumni, friends, corporations
and other foundations.