The Medical/ Clinical Assistant Program has so much to be proud of, as students and instructors have
volunteered to work with disabled children at a local children’s hospital, raised $300, and recently the
program hosted and coordinated a blood drive at both College campuses. In addition, instructors held a
cook out at both campuses, where over 200 students were in attendance; the Medical /Clinical Assistant
program is certainly giving back to the community!
Saving Lives
The blood drives were held at both campuses in September, where over 150 units of blood were donated
and collected. Mr. Jerry Angel, United Blood Services Donor Care Supervisor, says the organization has
successfully been working with Western Tech for the last ten years, because the College is so organized
and willing to help. He adds that “only one out of twenty people donate, but one out of four will need the
blood. It is crucial that the community helps to build an ample blood supply.” Manny Becerra, a Western
Tech Electronics Engineering Technology student, donated blood for the first time at the event. He says
he donated blood “because it is important to think of others,” and he had in mind children that might need
the blood. Similarly, Vicky Martinez, another student, gave blood because she also believes it helps the
community. She has donated blood on several occasions knowing her blood type is rare and she hopes it
will be there for those who might need it. Neither Mr. Becerra or Ms. Martinez was nervous about giving
blood, and they both said it did not hurt.
El Paso Del Norte Children’s Hospital Volunteers
In addition to hosting the blood drive for United Blood Services, students and instructors volunteered at
El Paso Del Norte Children’s Hospital, where they created and organized games and activities for
children. Eddie Garcia, a Hospital spokesperson says, “Everyone from Western Tech provides excellent
participation and is very professional”. While Mr. Garcia notes what a pleasure it is to work with the
volunteers from the College, he also mentions that the experience gives the student volunteers the
opportunity to practice their training. Garcia says that everyone did a great job of working with the
children with and without disabilities.
Ms. Veronica Aguilar, Instructor says her class visited the hospital back in August . “It was awesome,
“she says. Each visiting class is given a theme to plan their activities and games with the children; Ms.
Aguilar’s classes’ theme was Native Americans, so they, from their own money, purchased supplies such
as feathers, construction paper, glue, and crayons to make Native American themed headbands with the
children. They also sang songs and painted the children’s faces. In addition to actively engaging with the
children the students put together goody bags with crayons, puzzles and other toys.
Ms. Mariana Maribel, a Medical/Clinical Assistant Program student, dressed up as a Native American to
entertain the children, and she says “the best part was seeing them happy and smiling.” She also says she
now thinks she would like to work with children in the future. So as it turns out that her volunteering at the children’s hospital actually gave her the benefit of insight into a possible future career working with
children. Max Chavez, another student, adds that his favorite part of the volunteer opportunity was also
seeing the kids happy, and he will definitely participate again.
Other classes volunteered at the Hospital and their theme was dinosaurs, so they made coloring books for
the children and provided them with crayons they could keep. Instructors say not only do the student
volunteers enjoy themselves while working with the kids, but they also gain valuable working experience,
or as they describe the event “it is a valuable stepping stone for the students’ educational experience”.
Most people are looking forward to what the Medical/Clinical Program will do next to benefit and give
back to the community. From blood drives to volunteering at the Children’s Hospital, MCA students and
instructors deserve a pat on the back for their hard work and selfless efforts to better the community
around them.
