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Students in the first class of the UNMC Summer Youth Intern Program are: front row from left — Sidney Coleman II, Kneesha Reed and Lamont Slaughter; back row from left — Giovanni Kellogg, Zelldon Harden, Izaih Crawford and Denzel Cook. (Photo by Ira Combs) |
The junior and senior high students were chosen from a group of 25 applicants for the new UNMC program, said Ira Combs, UNMC community liaison and nurse coordinator.
The program — which is for Omaha students from underrepresented minority populations — is funded by the office of Vice Chancellor for Research and is part of the College of Public Health Center for Health Disparities.
The program is part of the university’s drive to incorporate more minority youth in health professions and research.
The students will meet through Aug. 1 for a variety of experiences that expose them to health sciences professions and research.
Those chosen were Sidney Coleman, Zelldon Hardin, Kaneesha Reed, Denzell Cook, Iziah Crawford, Giovani Kellogg and Lamont Slaughter.
Combs said he tries to make the program interesting for the age group.
“The kids have a lot of projects they’ll be doing this summer, including shadowing health professionals, students and staff,” he said. “We will teach them about health care and research and also how to be leaders and how to interact with people.”
The students get to wear scrubs as part of the program, Combs said, which makes them feel like they’re part of the campus. They also wear identification badges.
All are interested in some aspect of health care, Combs said.
“Some want to be nurses, some doctors,” he said. “One is interested in physical therapy.”
Combs likes being involved in the program because it lets him make a difference in the lives of young people.
For more information about the program, contact Combs at 595-1458.
Below are short profiles of the students in the program.
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Dan Brick of the UNMC College of Nursing, far right, tells Lamont Slaughter, with stethoscope, and Sidney Coleman how to listen for chest sounds. (Photo by Ira Combs) |
A South High School junior, Coleman has an interest in drama and is a member of her school’s Improv Group, an acting/comedy troupe.
Sidney attends Mount Carmel Baptist Church and is involved in the children’s choir. In fact, when the supervisor is not present, Sidney often leads the choir, which is composed of young people of all ages.
“I have a lot of interests,” Coleman said. “But I really want to get into music production, acting or something in the dramatic arts.”
He was recommended to enroll in advanced honors classes in acting. His first role in a play was a part in “The Wiz” while still a student at Beveridge Middle School.
“If not acting, then since I really like math and chemistry, I’d like to take on becoming a doctor because I’m really interested in studying the human body and the brain,” Coleman said.
When asked about the key inspirations in his life, Sidney didn’t hesitate in mentioning Hattie Mae Green, his aunt.
“She’s raising me and I really appreciate what she’s teaching me along the way,” he said. He also gives credit to Combs, whom he met last year during a health-care related actvity last year. “That’s when I got an interest in becoming active in health-related activities and this internship gave me the chance to get involved.”
Zelldon Shine Hardin, age 18
An 18-year-old National Honor Roll Society member with an identical twin, Hardin just graduated from Northwest High School.
He is looking forward to the future with energy and verve. While he was at Northwest he enjoyed sociology and French and was a member of the French Club.
Hardin’s headed to Iowa Western Community College to study biology and then he hopes to transfer to the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
From there, “it will be pre-med and then on to medical school and becoming a doctor,” he said.
Although he hasn’t quite decided what he wants to specialize in, he wants to be a doctor to help people.
“That’s also the reason why I applied for the internship offered by Mr. Combs and the medical center,” Hardin said.
The youngest of five, Zelldon has high praise for his twin brother, Donzell and his other siblings: Quincy, Barquinen and Precise.
“All of them have contributed to the person that I am today and I want to become a success so that I can make them proud of me and learn that they can do whatever they want to do if they apply themselves,” Hardin said.
Kaneesha Reed, age 15
Reed is a high-achieving sophomore who has been home-schooled by her mother, Anna Maria Reed, since kindergarten. This year, Reed will attend Omaha Christian Academy.
Reed applied for the UNMC internship because she knew it would give her the kind of experience she would need to do what she wants with her life — to be a pediatric nurse. She loves working with children and wants to have a positive impact on their lives.
Reed, the second of five children, is quick to mention that while being home-schooled, “My friends are really supportive and my mother makes sure that I’m involved in a lot of social and educational activities.”
This includes dance lessons, which she’s been taking for three years and working with her church, Freedom Christian Fellowship.
What does such an energetic person do with any spare time she might have?
“I do a lot of reading and I spend a great deal of time outdoors,” Reed said.
Denzell Cook, age 16
A junior at Central High School, Cook hopes to play varsity basketball this year. He averaged more than 12 points per game for the Eagles’ junior varsity team last season. But there’s more to this student than just hoops.
An only child and a regular at Mount Nebo Baptist Church, he is the son of Jackie and Arthur “A.C.” Cook. He reflects the pride that he has in his parents a mother working at the Charles Drew Medical Center and a father who is an officer at Douglas County Corrections. The Cooks, who also have a 10-year-old foster child.
Cook also is well-traveled. Every year the family heads down to Alcorn State University in Mississippi to visit family. “I get a chance to go to the college and work out and compete with the players,” he said.
During a trip to Indiana, he and his family attended the Indianapolis Black EXPO. One year he was able to meet and briefly talk with NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal.
But it’s his studies that he concentrates most on. He’s been thinking about and talking with Missouri Western College, an NCAA Division II university to keep his hoop dreams alive. His goal is “to become a lawyer — that is, if I don’t make it in the NBA.”
Cook decided to pursue the intern program this summer.
“Before that, I was just going to get a job at a Burger King or a McDonald’s like most of us young people do for the summer. But this was a really good opportunity and I’m glad to be a part of it,” he said. “One of the things Mr. Combs has shown us is how to check blood pressures, and I was glad for that because my grandfather has diabetes.”
Iziah Crawford, age 18
Benson High School senior Iziah Crawford is no stranger to responsibility and he’s taking life seriously.
In addition to being an intern in the UNMC program, he has owned his own car since he was 16 years old, and keeps busy by playing basketball. But his number one love is his one-year-old daughter, Ma’Niah.
“She’s what it’s all about and I do all that I can to spend as much quality time with her and her mother as I possibly can,” he said.
This summer he also will be headed off to the Black College Tour, sponsored each year by the Urban League of Nebraska.
His mother, attorney Terri Crawford made sure that Iziah went on the trip because it presents him with options, Crawford said.
Despite the black college tour, Iziah mentioned having his eye set on Kansas State, and possibly major in business or architecture.
His cousin, Giovani Kellogg, who’s also an intern, told him about the UNMC program.
“I figured that I would apply because I’ve always had an interest in keeping fit and healthy,” he said. “Mr. Combs has taught us a lot in just a little bit of time and this is an area that I could really become interested in as I learn more.”
Giovani Kellogg, age 17
A Northwest High School senior who enjoys woodshop and metal shop, Kellogg is the cousin of Ahman Green, a running back for the NFL’s Houston Texans.
But he has some high-level expertise of his own: the owner of a black belt in the martial arts and as big a Bruce Lee fan as you’ll find anywhere in the state.
Kellogg is into boxing, lifting weights and working on his jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and tae-kwon-do moves.
“It’s a great way to stay in shape and it keeps you focused on the things in life that area really important,” he said. “More people need to get into the martial arts, not just because of the self-defense benefits, but because it helps you think more clearly and it gives you peace of mind.”
His passion for the martial arts shows. He’s competed in Omaha, Kansas City and Minneapolis and he’s a two-time state champion in Nebraska. He’s interested in pursuing architecture at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he hopes to get into “construction architecture,” a craft he picked up at Northwest.
“They taught us a lot about putting together blueprints and whatnot,” he began. “I enjoy drawing so I think that architecture might be an area I would like to pursue.”
He was active in last year’s Youth Expression of Health (YEOH) program.
“It was so memorable that this year when I found out about these internships, I came down here as fast as I could to apply,” Kellog said. “Since the first day the class started, we have learned so much about health and it goes right into what I study in the martial arts. I’m glad that I applied for this fellowship.”
Lamont Slaughter, age 17
Going into his senior year at North High School, Slaughter said he’s taken almost every course related to law and justice class that he can possibly take. He knows his dream of being a lawyer will require a lot of work. He admires his aunt, Stephanie Williams, who’s an Omaha lawyer.
“You have to be committed to the job and be a people-person,” Slaughter said.
He is working toward attending Creighton University.
For now, Slaughter spends a good deal of his time as a member of the Condors community drill team which puts him close to his love of music, traveling and meeting new people.
He’s been a member of the team and has been playing drums for seven years. The time, energy and discipline it takes to perform and compete will help him in law school.
One of his favorite places to visit has been Indianapolis where last year his drill team performed in two large parades and during a half-time NFL football game.
“I was a little nervous and hesitant because there was a lot of people,” he said.
The most grueling competition to date was a seven-hour competition during a parade in Chicago. The team took third place.
The youngest of two brothers and two sisters, Slaughter is surrounded by family, teachers and friends who encourage him to work hard. One of his siblings is preparing to go off to college in Arizona. He finds Combs another positive influence.
“He’s respectful and we get the job done,” he said.