Community engagement a priority for HCC members Besides learning about various health career opportunities and gaining tips and strategies to improve their competitiveness as students, Health Careers Club members are making 'giving back' a priority.
Not only did HCC members participate in Habitat for Humanity last semester, but they also volunteered with the UNC Hospital's Pediatric Playroom and the Orange County Women's Shelter.
Just before Thanksgiving, HCC members purchased the ingredients, prepared, and served a spaghetti dinner to 10 women then staying at the shelter.
Also, several times during November and December, members created recreational games and developmental activities for children hospitalized at UNC. Their involvement with the Pediatric Playroom provided temporary relief for parents and families and a little holiday fun for the children.
Speaking of her involvement, Cerina Buchanan, HCC president, said "I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and work with the children. There is nothing more satisfying than to bring a smile to the face of a sick child and watch him--if only for a brief moment--forget about his illness."
Club members will continue volunteering in the playroom this semester; and, in fact, this event has been such a hit that there is a waiting list of HCC members wanting to participate.
Dates for this and other community engagement activities can be found on our
Web site.
2009 Science Enrichment Preparation (SEP) Program applications now availableThe NC-HCAP Web site has gone live with the
2009 SEP application. SEP will be held Saturday, May 16 - Thursday, July 9. Acceptance to the program will be on a rolling admission basis.
The application deadline is February 15.If you would like to support a deserving student for 2009, please contact Dr. Patrena Benton at
pbenton@unc.edu. If
you are interested in hosting an SEP informational session at your school, please
contact Paula Borden at
pborden@email.unc.edu.
SAVE THE DATE: 2009 Health on the BlockThe
NC-HCAP Health Careers Club will host the 6th annual Health on the
Block community health fair on April 4, 2009. The fair offers
complimentary health screenings and other important health-related
information to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community.
In 2008, we all began to feel the dismal state of the
country's economic standing professionally and personally. From the tripling of gas prices to home
foreclosures to the rise in unemployment rates, a financial crisis was looming
and, as such, a sense of urgency emerged. In the midst of that gloomy picture,
history was made with the election of our country's first African American president.
With it came a renewed sense of hope. Although "change" often causes one to
have reservations for fear of potential negative consequences, Americans have
demonstrated that they are not only welcoming it, but that they are 
Pave the way for a future health professional by giving to NC-HCAP.