Student volunteer gets hero award
By Cori Bolger, cbolger@altoonamirror.comArticle Photos
Fact Box
GRUGAN FILE
Name: Fiona Grugan
Age: 17
Hometown: Alexandria
Family: Parents: Pamela and the late Dr. Scott Grugan; two brothers and two sisters.
Education: Senior at Juniata Valley High School; enrolled in two advanced courses at Juniata College and plays violin in the college orchestra.
ALEXANDRIA - At 17, Fiona Grugan is already well on her way to achieving her goal of becoming a doctor.
So far, she has donated 130 hours of volunteer service at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon, worked alongside an oral surgeon in Guatemala and spent five weeks immersed in health care projects at the Pennsylvania Governor's School.
Her efforts are not going unnoticed, especially by Jean Kozak, Fiona's guidance counselor at Juniata Valley High School.
''There's nothing she can't tackle, and she's enthusiastic about everything,'' Kozak said. ''We've been so blessed to have her at school ... she raises the level for everybody.''
In October, Kozak nominated Fiona for the 2008 Student Health Care Hero Award, which recognizes teens who are contributing to the health care field through volunteer service or paid, part-time work in a health care setting.
Fiona of Alexandria won the local and regional award and will accept her $100 prize at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Southern Alleghenies Work force Investment Board at The Casino at Lakemont Park.
She also is one of five regional winners in Pennsylvania and will find out if she's won the statewide honor today in Harrisburg.
''This is all a bit surprising, but I am honored,'' Fiona said.
In addition to Fiona, two other local winners include runner-up Ashley Gwinn, a senior at Greater Johnstown High School, and second runner-up Carli Moose, a senior at Everett Area High School.
The contest was part of the seventh-annual Pennsylvania Health Careers Week celebration and focused on this year's theme, ''Become a Health Care Hero.''
Kozak's nomination essay illustrated how Fiona's volunteer work in health care can make her a hero.
''She does everything because of how other people will be affected, and I think that's her greatest strength,'' Kozak said. ''She is not doing it for herself, she's doing it to give back to the community and how it will affect other people's lives. She is truly one of those selfless health care providers we need.''
In addition to being the valedictorian at JVHS, Fiona also takes two advanced courses at Juniata College and plays violin in the college orchestra.
The two environments give Fiona variety and a chance to get involved at both levels.
''I feel like a lot of people goof off in their senior year, but I'm so excited to go to college that I take it as an opportunity to get ready for the challenging classes I'll have to take,'' said Fiona, who was home-schooled by her mother, Pamela, through ninth grade.
At Juniata College, she has made friends with pre-med students who offer her a glimpse into the future as an undergraduate.
Her volunteer work extended to regular work at the Huntingdon Area Soup Kitchen and she campaigned for Barack Obama with the Juniata College Democrats.
A founding member of the JVHS Sustainability Club, she helped establish a recycling program at her school and hopes to contribute ''green ideas'' to its renovation.
Although she is applying to about 10 colleges, Fiona hopes to attend Cornell University and major in pre-med.
The college credits she is taking now - including organic chemistry - allow her to prepare for the trying time ahead, Fiona said.
''By the time I get there, I will know what a really hard medical school prep class is like,'' she said. ''I didn't realize how good it would be for me and how much work it takes. I have a lot more respect for people who have gone through it.''
She also is considering taking a year off to participate in AmeriCorps, a federal program that partners with non-profit organizations.
The daughter of the late Dr. Scott Grugan, a radiologist at J.C. Blair, Fiona has a distinct vision on her path toward becoming a primary care physician.
''In the U.S., there's not enough emphasis on public health,'' she said. ''Everyone's busy administering sick care, but I'm interested in what people can do to stay healthy.''
Her work at the hospital allowed her to see how doctors operate on a regular day. She also was able to meet with patients, greet visitors at the hospitality desk and her favorite part: getting close to a real pumping heart.
''I see the kind of doctor I want to be in some of those doctors,'' she said. ''They have a lot of respect for the patients and ... take their feelings into consideration.''
In Guatemala, Fiona sterilized medical tools, treated gum infections and pulled teeth. At the Governor's School, she shadowed professionals and attended lectures by professors and researchers.
''We had to write a 75-page journal to reflect the things we were learning, and I went overboard and wrote 109 pages,'' she said with a laugh.
Born with a hearing disability, Fiona also has overcome several obstacles in her life, including the death of her father three years ago.
Every year, she helps organize and execute a 5K run and walk in his honor.
She said her hearing loss is a genetic disability that has made her more sensitive toward disabled people.
''I'm more aware of the challenges that might exist for someone with a disability,'' said Fiona, who wears hearing aids in both ears. ''It has always posed a challenge and makes me find alternative routes to my goals.''
Fiona says she takes her hearing loss in stride and tries to stay positive about her condition, which hasn't stopped her from achieving her goals.
''It will always be a problem and it will always be an asset,'' she said. ''I hope I'll be able to help people out because of it.''
Mirror Staff Writer Cori Bolger is at 946-7458.
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KlausVR
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11-10-08 6:46 PM
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Bacchus ... I agree ... WTF?????
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RobFan530
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11-10-08 6:22 PM
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Wow! It is so nice to see the kids who actually have a good head on their shoulders! Good for her, she is going to be a real asset to the medical field.
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mamacantdance
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11-10-08 5:40 PM
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Congratulations Fiona!! You're a special person - I wish you the very best.
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Bacchus
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11-10-08 2:34 PM
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IS THIS THE ONLY ARTICLE WE CAN COMMENT ABOUT?!?!?!??! GET REAL MIRROR!
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mama64
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11-10-08 8:49 AM
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Best of luck to Fiona. Sounds like she is gonna make and excellent Dr.!
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