EWU program opens door to healthcare industry for high school students

An Eastern Washington University project is allowing high school students in the eastern part of the state who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare to participate in a program in a hospital, clinic or healthcare facility.

Project H.O.P.E. (Health Occupations Preparations Experience) is part of the Eastern Washington Area Health Education Center at EWU, and allows disadvantaged juniors and seniors in high school to submit gain real-life experience in a healthcare setting. The program is four weeks long, with the accepted students interning 20 hours per week in the facility. Students that complete the program will also earn a stipend for their work.

For eastern Adams County students, East Adams Rural Healthcare in Ritzville is one of the hospitals that are participating in the program.

Students must submit an application to be considered, which is due by March 31. Among other requirements, applicants must be at least 16 years of age at the time of the job shadow and have a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Students are also required to submit their current high school transcript, a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, two essays and one presentation or project.

The first essay asks students to describe the ways that they feel disadvantaged. “This might mean living in a small community with few educational opportunities or not having a large enough family income to participate in extracurricular educational activities.”

The second essay asks students to explain why they are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.

The presentation or project portion of the application “should describe your connection to your culture and community, and explain how pursuing a degree in the health sciences will serve your community.”

To apply for the program, visit https://inside.ewu.edu/ewahec/programs/students/project-hope/project-h-o-p-e-application/.