Hickory Sun

The Catawba Valley Health System (CVHS) RISE Program recently celebrated its Fall banquet on December 10, 2024. The event honored 20 students from various high schools in the Catawba County area who participated in the program. During the banquet, Larissa Seraz was awarded the Eddie Beard $1000 Scholarship as the outstanding intern for the semester. Larissa is a senior at Hickory Christian Academy and completed her internship in the Oncology department at CVMC.

RISE, which stands for Robust Internship Student Experiences, is an intensive apprenticeship program designed for juniors and seniors enrolled in Catawba County high schools. It aims to help students explore career paths in healthcare through 120 hours of observation in their chosen fields. At the end of each semester, participants are recognized with a banquet and have a chance to win a $1000 scholarship provided by Catawba Medical Foundation.

The scholarship is awarded based on excellence throughout the program, particularly in problem-solving, professionalism, and leadership skills. Preceptors nominate exceptional students, and the recipient is selected by the RISE Scholarship Committee composed of organizational leaders.

To participate in RISE, students must ensure their school has an Educational Affiliation Agreement with CVHS or initiate one through CVHS's Organizational Learning department. This process typically takes four to six weeks. Additionally, students need to complete a Student Experience Request via the CVHS website.

For more information or to submit an Educational Experience Request Form, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Students.