Students who volunteered were: (pictured from left) Eddie Banda, Arron Gage, Jayce Nutt, Deagan England, Brandi Neal, and Michael Herrera.
Six current NTCC Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students recently had the opportunity to volunteer at a special needs Valentine’s dance at Coppergate Ranch. These students took extra time out of their weekend to help make the event memorable for attendees aged 9-67. One special guest, Grace, was a 17-year-old girl who got to celebrate her first birthday party at the dance.
The PTA program received the following message from the event coordinator: “This is Kathryn Jennett and I just wanted to reach out to you to let you know how impressed I was with your students who came out to volunteer. They were polite and energetic about everything I asked them to do. Even Eddie being such a good sport when it came to sharing a happy birthday song with Grace who turned 17. I cannot express enough how impressed we were with your group and the amazing feedback we have had from participants in regards to their time spent with your group! I am again so thankful!”
The students have been invited back maybe in May for another event Coppergate Ranch is putting together. The PTA faculty and staff take pride in fostering a sense of community service in its students.
“We teach professionalism and giving back through the program and for them to participate in this opportunity and SHINE is so great. These students also had to write a reflection paper and tell us what the experience was like for them. Each of them talked about the Birthday GIRL and Eddie sharing the spotlight with her and how rewarding that was to see someone have that first experience and be a part of it,” Bree Thompson, Administrative Assistant/Advisor to PTA, said.
