Letter to the Editor: MHS Class of 2009 Making Waves

Submitted by Sandy Lawson

The Mauldin High Class of 2009 is making an impact on the shortage of health care workers in our state.

Many of the students that attended in state schools were able to benefit from the enhanced Life and Palmetto scholarships for studying the sciences. Seven students from the class have been accepted to Allopathic Medical School, also known as the traditional medical school that leads to a MD credential. One student will go to a school of Optometry and receive her OD credential. Two students are attending Pharmacology school which will lead to a PharmD credential. Four more students will continue their studies in Chemistry earning their Phd in the field. There are two students entering into a Master in Public Health program and another entering into a Masters in Biomedical Sciences working toward her Phd in the field. We also have a student working towards Physician Assistant School. 

In addition, eight students have graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with another student entering into the program. Another student has graduated with a degree in Biomedical engineering and has a job lined up in the field. One student chose to go into non traditional medicine and will get her Masters in Acupuncture.  

The class has had many other success stories and here are just a few that I was able to find out about.

Rachel Woodlee, Rhodes Scholar who will attend Oxford University (Brasenose College) and study Chinese for the next two years. Emily Taylor will be commissioned as an officer in the US Army (2nd Lieutenant) as an Army Aviator. Rachael Nelson was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy and will report to the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA. Joi Pierce was promoted to the rank of Corporal in the United States Marine Corp. Kristen Smith is entering into the Disney College Program as a post-grad participant. Adam Maalouf graduated from the Eastman School of Music and will move to NYC to pursue a career in the field. Chris Askew is interning for Steadman Hawkins orthopedic clinic and plans to apply to medical school. Genelle Williams graduated with a degree in communications and is currently a freelance writer. Amy Moon graduated with a degree in Preprofessional health and plans to apply to med school after taking a gap year. Libby Wallin is employed as a Campus Recruiter for Deloitte in Charlotte, NC. Madison Younginer graduated high school and was immediately drafted into professional baseball by the Boston Red Sox. Madison is currently playing for the Greenville Drive. Nichole Mele graduated from SCAD-Atlanta with a degree in Fashion Marketing and Management. She will pursue a career in this field in the southern region. Ben Carlson was recently drafted to Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Angels. In addition, Jon Baddley and Devon Johnson will continue their studies at law school next year. 

Congratulations, Class of 2009, it has been a joy to watch you grow over the past several years! Well done, Mavs, well done!

Medical School
Celeste Peay (Furman)– Boston University Medical School
Kelsey Derrick (Clemson)– Medical University of South Carolina
Curren Smith (Clemson) – Medical University of South Carolina
Eric Lawson (Emory)– University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Greenville
Laura Simon (Virginia Tech) - University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Greenville
Cameron Sutton (Furman) - University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville
Cammy Smythe (Wofford) – University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Columbia

School of Optometry
Lauren Dallas (Clemson) – Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, TN 

Pharmacology School
Kira Koenig  (USC)– Presbyterian College
Sarah Schaidle (CofC) – University of Colorado Denver

Phd Chemistry Schools
Kristen Arabea (CofC)– Colorado State University
Calynn Johnson (CofC) – Washington University, St. Louis
Kimber Klas(CofC) – Colorado State University
Ahlam Armaly (Furman) – University of Michigan 

Masters in Public Health
Matt Wessinger (Furman)– Emory University
Eeshwar Chandrasekar (USC) – Emory University

Masters in Biomedical Science
Allison Stahl (Winthrop)– Mercer University

Physician Assistant School
Morgan Gregg (Elon)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Lauren Harper (Clemson), Rachael Nelson (USC), Caroline West (USC), Karli Keels (USC), Leah Sullivan (USC), Stacey Bourgeois (USC), Caroline Gray (USC), Allie Cripps (USC), Megan Jones (Furman)

Biomedical Engineer
Shayam Patel – Georgia Tech

Masters in Acupuncture
Casey McCullough (Clemson)– Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

Some previous graduates of Mauldin in health care:
Kaitlyn Oates, Pharmacist; Allison Praktish – Physician; Jenna Johnson, Pharmacist; Geoff Bloomquist, Dental School; Taylor Harris, Medical School; Megan Fischer, Doctorate in Public Health; Bethanie Hansen, Pharmacy School; Ashley Miller, BSN; Kimmy Gillespie, Doctorate in Physical Therapy; Nick Baughman, Optometry School; Kevin Kulik, Pharmacy School; Alyssa Kulik, Masters in Speech Pathology; Cam Bloomquist, Phd Chemistry; Ansley Erbacher - Doctorate in Physical Therapy, MUSC.

If you know more students in the heath care field, please let me know so I can add their names to the list.

— Sandy Lawson