HealthSmart

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Wed, Jun 3, 2015 at 05:00 AM

GHS student’s essay about Vietnam visit earns $500 scholarship

Guntersville High graduate Jessica Hoang is the winner of a $500 scholarship from Marshall Medical Centers to help finance her trip to national HOSA competition this summer.

Miss Hoang plans to attend Snead State Community College in the fall before transferring to UAB to pursue a degree in biology. Her ultimate goal is to become a pediatrician. 

Students interested in applying for the scholarship were asked to submit an application along with an essay explaining what healthcare career he or she would like to pursue and why. 

Miss Hoang’s essay described her 2006 visit to Vietnam, her parents’ homeland, where she visited a medical clinic. The doctor and nurses she met there inspired her toward a career as a physician.

“Jessica is a very kind-hearted young lady who is intelligent and who also has an impeccable work ethic,” said Health Sciences Teacher Beth Nixon. “She is well liked among her peers and the staff at GHS.” 

Mrs. Nixon said Miss Hoang won first place in Health Education, which was made-up of a team of three other students. The team went to Guntersville Elementary in the spring and taught about the importance of hand-washing. Their project was called “The Clean Cat Club”, for the school’s ‘wildcats’ mascot. 

Mrs. Nixon will take five GHS students to the HOSA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif., in June. It will cost approximately $1,500 for each student’s flight and hotel expenses. Marshall Medical Centers is proud to support HOSA students in the national competition.

“We are pleased to offer our encouragement to students who are excelling in the HOSA programs in our area schools,” said Claudette DeMuth, director of marketing for MMC.  “Investing in the future of our local healthcare is just the right thing to do.”