The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Student Leadership Club met Saturday, June 9, to organize and plan for numerous volunteer projects the group will undertake this summer.
In addition to the organizational meeting, the students welcomed AHEC alumni Ronnie Newton, Leonel Baldazo, Erick García and Leilany Barberena, who have been part of the AHEC family for many years and who are now enrolled in a higher education program pursuing their educational dreams. Each shared their college experiences with the group.
“AHEC has had an impact on my educational journey since I first joined the program as a 9th grader. It opened doors for me to learn and become part of projects that enabled me to have an edge above other students who are applying for medical school,” remarked Barberena, who is currently attending UTSA will take the entrance exam for medical school in August. She said she credits her positive experience throughout her high school and college years to the AHEC in Laredo. Students at the meeting undertook activities to sharpen their leadership skills and participated in various group ice breakers to strengthen networking and to develop positive group dynamics.
Students who will serve as volunteers for the upcoming AHEC academies for middle school and elementary school age students also undertook training for the two summer classes.
Before adjourning their Saturday meeting, the students learned about cancer prevention, the importance of the HPV Vaccine, CPR certification, and Youth Mental Health First Aid courses. The students adjourned the meeting by reinforcing their commitment to help improve lives of others through volunteer projects.
AHEC, the Area Health Education Center of the Mid Rio Grande Border Area, is an outreach program under auspices of the UT Health Science Center of San Antonio and is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to enhance the quality of life in our communities by increasing the number of well-trained health care workers; enhancing academic resources; and fostering a healthy life style through community education programs.
For additional information about AHEC and ITSprograms, visit www.facebook.com/AreaHealthEducationCenter or www.mrgbahec.org or call (956) 712-0037.
