I am currently a student at Aiken Technical College enrolled in the surgical technology program. This coming August I will have completed the program and taken my certification exam. I chose surgical technology as a career because I wanted to expand my knowledge in the medical field. During my studies, I really enjoyed going to clinical. I have gained great experience and knowledge from the different clinical sites. I enjoy scrubbing and having a role in making a difference in someone’s life. After graduation I plan on being an OB/GYN surgical tech.

On a trip out to Travis AFB at the age of 19, I learned about surgical technology through a family friend who was working as a surgical technologist in the United States Air Force. I hammered her with questions for most of the visit. However, I already had enrolled previously in photography school, which was to begin in the fall of that same year. During the Christmas break, I had the good fortune of travelling abroad to visit my sister at the Air Force base in South Korea where she was stationed. Receiving this exposure to military service planted another seed within me. After earning my photography certification, I headed to San Diego to seek employment. During this time, I continued to reflect upon those planted seeds from my brief visit at Travis AFB and the remarkable trip to South Korea.

I returned to my home state of Massachusetts, and at the age of 24 made the decision to enlist in the United States Air Force to become a surgical technologist. Unfortunately, in the midst of basic training, they discovered I had a degenerative eye disease called Keratoconus. Through my consultation with the base ophthalmologist, I learned that the severity of my condition would limit my ability to navigate through basic training. Consequently, I had to make the difficult choice of separating from the service and addressing my medical condition. In 2003, I had my first of two corneal transplants. During this procedure, I woke up just as the surgeon was bringing the cutting instrument down towards my eye. This event stayed with me for years, and the planted seeds from my past resurfaced.

In 2015, I began to explore the idea of returning to school and looked at going to night school. Then I heard a radio commercial for New England Tech, discovered the surgical technology program and enrolled. My aspirations in the field of surgical technology are significant. My goals are to be a first assistant and to one day work for one of the country’s most prestigious hospitals, Massachusetts General Hospital.

There are many aspects of the surgical technology field that interest me. I love the fast pace of the operating room. I thoroughly enjoy helping patients during their most vulnerable times by ensuring that the surgeon has everything he or she needs to successfully complete each procedure. My attention to detail and my caring nature will allow me to excel in this field.

As my 15-week clinical experience comes to a close, I eagerly anticipate my September 2017 graduation. I have had the privilege of engaging with many inspiring preceptors, nurses and surgeons. I am looking forward to pursuing a position at my current clinical site as a Certified Surgical Technologist.

My path has led me full circle back to surgical technology. I have found my passion.

I am very humbled by receiving this award and very thankful. It seems unreal to me to have gotten this far, considering where I started. My work history of 30 years consisted of three different factories. I had always wanted to go back to school but never really had the chance. I had to support and raise my two daughters so school was never an option. I had remarried and my children were growing up and soon graduated from high school. The thought of going back to school was still in the back of my mind. My husband told me one day, if you want to go back to school, let’s do it. So with a leap of faith, I quit my job and started taking classes and eventually was accepted into Jefferson College of Health Sciences. I chose surgical technology because I had always wanted to do something in the medical field and this seemed to be very good fit for me. I was never an A student and was very scared when I first started—all of this was very new to me. I struggled and tried very hard to get through all the classes.

I felt frustrated at times because I couldn’t get it as quickly as the other students who were much younger than me, but I stayed and kept pushing forward. I graduated with honors—what an amazing thing for me to accomplish! No one will ever know how much becoming a CST means to me. I hope that when I start my new career, I can make a difference in people’s lives with my compassion, always doing what is right, and maybe with just a warm smile.

First and foremost, thank you so much for awarding me this scholarship. Words will never be able to express how grateful I am. This program has been rewarding, but also time consuming, and I’ve put a lot of effort into always doing as well as I possibly can. I’ve fallen in love with surgical technology, and this scholarship is further affirmation that I’m on the right path.

I’ve always been fascinated by the human body and imagined myself having a career in healthcare. I’ve loved watching surgeries since I was young, so the operating room seemed like the perfect place for me to be. The program at Ulster BOCES has changed my life. I’ve learned so much these past 10 months. Every rotation has been a great experience, and along the way I’ve met some amazing surgical techs who are just as passionate about this field as I am. Along with my instructors, they’ve helped me form such solid skills that I can’t wait to bring into my career. I’ve never loved school as much as I do now. I love learning about a surgery in class, and then getting to go into the hospitals and, not only see it in real life, but offering a set of helping hands during the procedure.

Being a part of the OR team is such a thrill for me. I loved being involved in helping and healing people. I can’t wait to apply everything I’ve learned and put my knowledge to use after I graduate. I’m so happy to have finally found my niche. As a Certified Surgical Technologist, I’ve made a promise to myself and to my future patients to be the best tech I can possibly be, to always put my patients first and to always uphold a strong surgical conscience.

I am so honored and grateful to be receiving this scholarship. Surgical technology is an amazing field, and the program that I will graduate from in just a few weeks has been such a wonderful experience. I have an instructor who is so passionate and driven that the semesters have flown by. She is an excellent mentor and role model. I have so much to be thankful for.

The decision to go back to school and change my career represents a new season in my life. I have deliberately set this time aside to focus on learning new skills and living a more meaningful life. My greatest hope is to care for others with compassion and reverence.

I always knew that I wanted to work in healthcare, specifically in the operating room. I have always been passionate about working with and helping people. For me, surgical technology is a way to fulfill that desire. I want my life’s work to be a beautiful story of loving one another more than oneself and I have found that in this opportunity.

I am currently a student enrolled in the surgical tech program at Eastern Maine Community College and will be graduating in December 2017. I have always had an interest in the medical field but was not sure what area to go into after high school. I have worked at a hospital as a secretary for two years now and enjoy being able to observe procedures the doctors do at the bedside. I have seen chest tubes placed, dialysis catheters changed, and many dressing changed. I find it all very interesting. I was excited when I learned the community college in my town has a surgical technologist program. I started the surgical classes in the beginning of this year and it is nice to be studying something I find enjoyable.

Both of my parents are surgical techs and I have grown up listening to them tell stories of their day in the operating room. Having both of my parents’ support, and their own love for their jobs helped me make the choice to work in the operating room.

We have started our clinical in the hospital and I am really enjoying the hands-on experience my classmates and I are getting. I have been able to first scrub on multiple cases now and am learning so much. I love the feeling of being a part of helping change someone's life for the better.

After graduation I cannot wait to start my career as a full time surgical technologist and continue my education in different services to be a great, well-rounded surgical technologist.

The decision to change direction in life and return to school again after completing my bachelor’s degree in 1988 was not an easy one at my age, but one done in anticipation of fulfilling a lifelong dream of working in an operating room. After completing my first general anatomy course in fall 2014, I was hooked. The human body is an amazing thing and being a part of surgical procedures and seeing the intricacies and how the body systems work together is fascinating.

I graduated from Jefferson College of Health Sciences in May of this year. Having studied under a top notch group of instructors, I am ready to perform at the highest level in the operating room. Their enthusiasm and passion for the field was contagious and spurred my classmates and myself to excel in the classroom and the clinical setting. Their dedication prepared all of us for the national exam. The climax of my experience, beyond graduating with honors, was being notified that I had passed and was officially a Certified Surgical Technologist.

My immediate goals are to take some time to rest and recover from the rigors of study over the past three years. I will make up some time with family and take care of some responsibilities that have fallen by the wayside. Eventually, my goal is to work in a same-day surgery center as a surgical technologist - using my knowledge and skills to bring about positive outcomes for each and every patient.

I am honored to have received Bob Caruthers scholarship sponsored by the Texas State Assembly, so I’d first like to say thank you! If someone ever tells you it’s too late to get an education, do not listen to their negativity. I will be 41 when I graduate and I couldn’t be more excited for the career path I have chosen so late in life.

After 12 years in the aerospace industry, I was laid-off and with no degree and only on-the-job training, it was hard to find a job let alone another career. That is when I made the decision to go back to school and, with my family behind me 100%, began this journey. So it’s never too late to get a education!

I chose the surgical technology program for two reasons. I have always had a passion for helping others and surgical technology is a pathway that not a lot of people think about. The second reason is a very good friend of mine who has been a surgical technologist for several years. I would listen to him tell stories about the different cases and found it very intriguing.

There really is not one aspect of in this program that I have enjoyed more than the next. The entire program so far has been exhilarating. To be very honest, it hasn’t been an easy road. To those that say, “Well, all you do is pass instruments to the doctor,” I challenge you take a surgical technology course or talk with a surgical technologist. Yes, we do pass instruments but we also learn the true meaning of sterility and how to maintain it, along with many other jobs that those on the outside don’t see. It’s something that we as surgical technologists take very seriously and take pride in.

I am set to start clinicals in July 2017, so all the hard work in the classroom and lab is going to be put to use. This will be the time I learn as much as I can from those around me. I hope to find a specific service that I accelerate in, but at the same time, I want to learn as much I can about all the services, such as ortho, nero, cardiac, etc.

I believe this will only make me a better surgical technologist but will also make me strive to be more valuable to the facility that will employ me in the future. I firmly believe you only get out what you put in, so I plan to apply myself and learn as much as I can, not only as a student but through my entire career, and have as much fun doing this as I can.

Thank you for the scholarship I was awarded. I graduated from Ulster BOCES Surgical Technology Program June 15, 2017. Going into the profession of surgical technology has been one of the best decisions of my life! Taking the chance of switching from animal medicine, where I was a former veterinary assistant, to human medicine was definitely a big change but well worth it! It's so nice to finally have found my niche in the career world and that also compliments my crazy OCD personality.

I am very excited to announce that I have accepted a position at Rochester General Hospital in their Operating Room Department, starting July 2017! I'm so grateful that I can make a difference in others lives behind the scenes, thanks to the wonderful world of surgical technology! Don't forget to “Keep Calm and Scrub On.”

I would like to thank the Foundation for Surgical Technology for awarding me this scholarship. I returned to school after being a stay-at-home mom for many years and am very excited to enter this new phase of my life. I chose surgical technology as a career because I have a longstanding interest in surgery, I want to have positive impact on people’s lives, and I want to be part of a team that provides the best patient care for each and every case.

I graduated from the Ulster BOCES Surgical Technologist Program in June 2017. My program director, Barb Maderi, CST, gave me unflagging support and encouragement. She is truly amazing in her ability to connect with students, provide guidance, and help each new class succeed. The clinical experience was definitely a highlight of the program. There really is no substitute for the hands-on learning of scrubbing in on a range of surgeries. I was fortunate to have worked with preceptors willing to teach and help me develop the skills I need as a practicing CST.

After graduation, I will be relocating across the county to Portland, Oregon, and hope to secure a CST position where I can continue to build on my skills and gain proficiency in different specialties.

I graduated from Ulster BOCES in June 2017. Being in their surgical technology program has truly been one of the best experiences. My teachers and classmates are some of the most passionate and caring people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

I have always known that the healthcare field was where I belonged. Once I heard about the surgical technologist program, I researched what exactly a surgical tech did, and it seemed like a perfect fit for me. After classes and clinicals started, I fell in love with the OR and couldn’t picture myself anywhere else. I find the OR environment to be extremely rewarding, and having the ability to be a part of it is an amazing feeling.

I am very fortunate and have been hired at an ambulatory surgical center. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge and skills, but also to being an integral part of the surgical team. I plan to continue my education and become a registered nurse. I know everything that I have already learned, and what I will learn while working as a CST, will greatly help me to become a successful OR nurse.

I was enrolled in the health occupations program at my local vocational tech school for the last two years of my high school career. I enrolled because I knew that the medical field was where I wanted to be but I wasn't sure about the specific occupation. As a part of the class curriculum, we had to work toward becoming a certified nursing assistant, which required us to attend clinicals at the local nursing home. Although I enjoyed working with people, I realized that that type of direct care was not for me. I wanted more action.

Most people cringe at the sight of blood and gore, but I am highly intrigued by it. I want to be able to see all the action and be able to be part of the solution to the problem. My vocational teacher was the one who directed me toward the operating room. She pulled some strings and was able to get me into an operating room to observe as a student still in high school. That was an amazing opportunity that I will forever be grateful for, because that is when I fell in love with this occupation.

My ultimate goal is to finish my program in December of 2017, and get certified as a surgical technologist. Considering that I am young, I will most likely pursue a nursing degree after I get my CST and more experience under my belt.

Honestly, I have always been weirdly obsessed with the OR, and after realizing that I was spending hours of my free time glued to videos and TV shows about surgeries, it finally hit me that I was in the wrong line of work and needed to rethink my career choice.

As a student, I love the relationships that I have formed, and the experiences I have had along the way. It is such a feeling of contentment knowing that no matter what procedure we are doing, we are helping that patient improve their quality of life. That feeling alone is absolutely amazing. Each day I get closer to graduating, I remain confident that I’ve made the right decision.

Passing my certification exam, completing my program, and finally being hired as a CST are at the top of my list of priorities right now. I am scheduled to take my certification exam in July, I graduate in August, and I am so looking forward to spreading my wings and growing in this industry. I have no doubt that my future is promising.

I am very thankful and honored to receive the Foundation for Surgical Technology scholarship. I am currently a student at St. Louis Community College and I feel happy to be thriving in the program! I am doing great in school and the best thing about it is that it comes easy for me to do well because I truly love what I am doing. Every single morning that I wake up early and go to clinical is an exciting day because I get to go to the hospital and scrub in on real cases. I feel a great sense of empowerment every time a patient gets extubated after a successful surgery because there is a pride in knowing that I had a part in that.

After I graduate in July, I look forward to starting my career as a CST so that I can continue to assist with surgeries and help patients. My goal is to do the best that I can to apply everything that I have learned as a student and to further my education by being an RN or CFA. The other goals that I want to accomplish would be to attend an AST conference and to be able to go on a mission trip once I am more experienced.

I chose surgical technology to make a small difference in healthcare. From an early age, I always knew that I wanted to do something in healthcare, I just didn't know what exactly. I began my healthcare journey upon high school graduation when I enrolled in a nursing program. I knew I wanted to be an OR nurse so that I could see all the action. When I realized that nurses aren't usually the ones scrubbed in, I changed programs.

My absolute favorite classes in the program were pathophysiology, pharmacology and anesthesiology, and microbiology. These classes really allowed everything I was learning in my surgical technology classes to click. I was almost mind blown learning about all the different effects drugs can have on the body, as well as adverse interactions when mixed with other drugs. I have grown and matured throughout my program, realized what I like and what I don't, but one thing always remained the same, my passion for the OR. I love the energy, the intelligence, and the love that every OR staff member brings into the room.

I graduated from my program in May 2017 with a 4.0 and will be starting nursing school at Duke University this coming fall. My next milestone is becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

I grew up in Southern Oregon and moved to Washington in 2005 after graduating high school. I went from a small rural town to big city living. After years of working at a dead-end job, I pursued a new career path in a field I knew nothing about, but opportunity knocked so I took it. One and a half years later, I was out of said job after my role was eliminated and my lack of a degree left me unqualified to transfer into another department.

As they say “when one door closes, another door opens.” I am a firm believer in that because I am living it right now, and this notion has proven itself to me throughout my life. I decided to go back to school. I wanted to be in a field that is in demand, affords opportunity, provides medical benefits, is team oriented, helps others in need and could stay with me until retirement if I so choose. That is how I found the surgical technologist program at Renton Technical College.

I am at the end of my third quarter of a one year program. When all said and done, I’ll have my associate degree. I couldn’t be happier with the open door that life has brought forth to me. Being in an OR and building a skill set that directly impacts the health and wellness of another person is an amazing feeling. I will positively add to the synergy it takes to keep a patient safe, and that is a wonderful thing to be a part of.

I look forward to my future. Even more so, I look forward to the days when I will become a preceptor so I can pass on to others the same respect and appreciation I have gained for the operating room.

I am 19 years old and will be graduating from Eastern Maine Community College in six months with my associate degree in surgical technology. I will also, hopefully, be certified by that time. Our certification exam is scheduled for two days before graduation. This scholarship is going to help me finish out my schooling. I was becoming worried about how I was going to be able to start 40-hour-week clinicals and be able to afford to pay for everything that I need and the responsibilities I have, especially my horse. This scholarship reward will help me pay for school and my horse, and is greatly appreciated.

I am hoping to get a job in the Bangor area after graduation and I am thinking about going back to school to become a first assist or a PA after a couple of years of working experience. I am very excited about my future as a CST and I am so very greatful for this generous scholarship.

I have just recently started clinicals at Eastern Maine Medical Center and have started to realize how much I have learned in the past few months. It is amazing. I am realizing what I am capable of, and my instructors have really pushed me to be where I am and have helped to believe in myself. I am looking forward, not only to graduation, but to how much I will be able to learn and push myself in these next six months. I know I will be challenged but I am ready for it and I am so excited to push through it!

I would just like to express my thanks one last time for this reward. I will help more than I am able to explain.

I chose to major in surgical technology because of my passion for human anatomy and patient care. With this career, I can fulfill my scientific curiosity in the cutting-edge field and satisfy my passion for helping human beings. This field allows me to explore the boundaries and healing abilities of the human body, while simultaneously caring for the human spirit.

As a recent graduate and newly hired Certified Surgical Technologist, I plan on further expanding my knowledge of surgical procedures, safety and aseptic practices, anatomy and physiology, and both my interpersonal skills and my compassionate nature. I look forward to working in a patient-focused, detail-oriented, and team-building environment.

Waking up each day knowing I’ll be in the operating room has given me so much joy and sense of purpose that I hope to one day go back to school to become a Certified Surgical First Assistant to learn and further develop my surgical knowledge. I plan to grow and learn as this field continues to evolve throughout my lifelong career in the operating room.