This fall, students and staff of Ross Medical Education Center in Flint participated in a “Pack a Backpack” back to school drive. They decided to partner with the local Swartz Creek Community Schools to make sure that all students had a fair shot at success this school year. Not every family is able to equip their children with the necessary tools to achieve in school, but each child deserves the opportunity to have what they need. So, the campus worked hard to support families and students through the school supply drive.
Students on the campus in all three programs, Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration, and Dental Assistant, competed against one another to win “sweet treats.” They each tried to collect the most school supplies, and in the end were able to donate over 840 items! Some of the items collected were backpacks, scissors, notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, and much more.
After all was said and done, the winners of the contest and the sweet treats were the students of evening Dental Assistant Instructor, Carole Hayes. To reward the winning class, a staff or faculty member brought in homemade cookies or other delicious items for the students each evening.
The event was organized by Medical Assistant Instructor and a mother in the Swartz Creek school district, Bernadette Cox. She inspired her students and other staff members to rally behind the needy students and families in the district and to make a big impact. Because of her incredible efforts, Cox was recently recognized at the Swartz Creek school board meeting and even made news in the local paper, the Swartz Creek View.
This event is one that the campus plans to do annually, as they enjoy the opportunity to help students at various districts in their area. “Students enjoyed helping out local schools and earning a special treat,” said Ann Sims, Assistant Director of Education. She and other members of the campus were able to present their donations to the Swartz Creek school board. The district was grateful to receive the contributions that will benefit elementary and middle school students this school year.