Health care students fare well in competition

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
March 2, 2003
Meridian Community College and its Health Organization Students of America chapter recently sponsored a competition for students from the Central District of Mississippi.
Students from 23 high schools participated with more than 425 competitors. The event was Feb. 22.
Students competed in four categories.
Categories 1 through 3 were individual competitions that included prepared speaking, medical math, CPR/first aid, dental assisting, nursing assisting and medical terminology.
Category 4, a group competition, included creative problem solving and medical reading.
Winners in each category received a tuition paid scholarship to MCC. If winners were from Lauderdale County and already eligible for the scholarship, they received a $150 credit at the MCC bookstore.
The current tuition at MCC is $600 per semester.
Individuals who placed in the top five will advance to the state competition March 24-26 in Biloxi. State winners will advance to the national competition June 17-21 in Atlanta.
Meridian students who placed in the top five of their categories included Whitney McAlister, Alexander Smith, April Hubbard, Delisha McClellend, Jessica Sylvester, Taylor Milling, Tiffany Smith, Ashley Thompson, Melissa Tubbs, Amber Gray, Becky Pou, Stacy Smith, Alex Forbis, LaShana Cross, Jessica Courvelle, Brittany Donald, Jade Mobley, Lea Cook, Courtney Lowe and Kirby Rutledge.
In three categories, students were unable to compete because not enough students were registered for the competition. Those students, however, will be allowed to participate in the state competition. The students are Dana Long, Kaleb Price, Derick Reid, Cassie Wiegand, Bridget Confait, Laura Harrison, Savannah McClinton, Jessica Pogue, Kristen Rigdon, Katelan Graham and Nastacia McClelland.