UM Hospital Thanks Teen Volunteers for Service at “Come Grow with Us” Luncheon

8/20/2008

In her trademark hat, this one pink and trimmed in silver sequins, state Senator Frederica S. Wilson captured the attention of her audience at University of Miami Hospital, the flagship hospital of the University of Miami Health System.

The teens work alongside mentors at University of Miami Hospital as part of the “Come Grow with Us” volunteer program, which develops leadership and professional skills in young people and encourages them to pursue a career at the hospital. University of Miami Hospital is the flagship hospital of the University of Miami Health System.

At the luncheon and awards ceremony on August 15, Wilson and UM Hospital leadership thanked the teens for their service and dedication. “You should all be proud of yourselves,” said Wilson, a Miami Democrat who works closely with the hospital in her role as founder of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a dropout prevention intervention program for young “at risk” boys.

“Every day we turn on the news and we find our youth in compromising positions. You’ve steered yourselves away from that and you’ve been given an opportunity to set your goals and follow your dreams.”

She said she receives calls every day from parents, teachers, and community workers who are disturbed about today’s youth. “I’m going to spread the word that I know a group trained by Sonia Martinez at University of Miami Hospital that is going to make a positive impact on the community,” she said.

Martinez, director of consumer relations and volunteer services, developed the program in 1995. In addressing the group, she highlighted the success stories of former volunteers Lorena Zeledon, Joanna Torres, Michael Jacques, Yadira Vanegas and Vallejo Vanessa, who now work at the hospital.

Hospital CEO Anthony Degina presented the Diamond Teen Awards for excellent service to Julian Joseph, a senior at North Miami High School who volunteers in the ER and Israel Ugalde, a senior at Hialeah Senior High School who also worked in the ER.

“The spirit and enthusiasm young folks bring is important to our organization,” said Degina. “If you plan to have a future in health care, we hope it’s here at University of Miami Hospital.”

Awards for the most volunteered hours went to Jacqueline Lozano, a junior at Coral Gables High School, for 107 hours of service in the child care department, and to Michelle Perez, an eighth-grader at Pioneer Middle School, who served 226 hours in regulatory compliance and safety.

Eighteen-year-old Edwin Ruel, who began volunteering in 2004, received top honors and a scholarship of $1,000 from UM Hospital’s Auxiliary, a volunteer committee for adult community members led by president Craig Rogowski.

“I came here as a little kid, and now I’m the teen coordinator for the program,” said Ruel, who also received the program’s Certificate of Merit at the event. “When I started, Sonia told us she would give us the key to success and it will be up to us to open the door. I believe I got the key.”