Classic Upward Bound students at Delaware Tech do job shadowing at Beebe

What better way to get a sense of what to do after college than to actually try it out? That’s what students in the Classic Upward Bound program at Delaware Technical & Community College in Georgetown get to do with their work-study program.

Students have the opportunity to choose a new, six-week work-study placement each summer when they participate in the Upward Bound program. While some students will choose a new placement or business to complete their hours each summer, many return to the same location.

This is the second year that Kristin Krasts, student enrichment coordinator for Classic Upward Bound at Delaware Tech, has worked with Jennifer Hargreaves, clinical education specialist at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. This collaboration enables the high school students and recent alumni interested in the healthcare field to job shadow at the hospital. Krasts is grateful for the chance to assist students in getting the real-life experience.

“It has been a wonderful experience for our students to see from a firsthand perspective what the different health careers entail before entering college. I am truly appreciative of the opportunity that Beebe provides our students,” she said.

Hargreaves added that the students bring as much to the table as the professionals.

“It’s very energizing,” she said. “They bring an energy to nursing. It helps to see someone energized and helps to get excited [about your job] again.”

She said, in addition to clinical shadowing, this year the students heard from human resources representatives about interviewing skills and were able to see the hospital’s heli-pad used for critical patient transports.

Students were equally appreciative of the program and the hospital staff sharing their days with them.

"My experience at Beebe was really different than what I expected, in a good way,” said Katara Deputy of Laurel. “The staff was very welcoming and kind. Getting to see what really goes on with the nurses performing their duties was very exciting. I enjoyed the time we spent there."

Miesha Feddiman of Millsboro and Jennifer Perez of Georgetown had similar sentiments.

"My experience at Beebe Medical Center was eye-opening and different than expected,” said Feddiman. “Everyone was nice and always smiling."

"Job shadowing at Beebe was an awesome experience,” said Perez. “It was great to be able to go in and observe the fields that I am interested in even before I graduate. The experience helped me decide on which career I am truly interested in. I thank Upward Bound and Beebe Medical Center for giving me this opportunity."

The students have the opportunity to rotate through the various departments in the hospital shadowing professionals with four-year college degrees in order to learn about different careers in the healthcare field.

This year students have shadowed in the orthopedics, respiratory, radiology, rehabilitation, medical/surgery, progressive care unit, and the quality and clinical effectiveness departments. Additionally, students have listened to guest speakers from Beebe School of Nursing on admissions and nursing careers, from the human resources office at the hospital regarding interviewing skills, and have learned about emergency preparedness.

The Classic Upward Bound program is part of TRIO, a set of national federally funded college opportunity programs. The funding level for this year was $287,880. The mission is to empower participants to complete high school and enter and complete a program of postsecondary education by providing academic support, personal guidance, parent education, and enrichment services in the area of study skills, college preparation, and financial aid.

The program consists of college and career awareness activities, academic support throughout the school year, the six-week summer academic skills enrichment program, tours of colleges and universities, trips to area businesses, and cultural trips to various cities. The objective of the summer work-study initiative is to expose program participants to careers requiring a postsecondary degree.

For more information on Classic Upward Bound, visit www.dtcc.edu/owens/ccp/SSS_Trio/Pages/TRIO1.htm. For more information on Beebe Medical Center, visit www.beebemed.org.