BLINN PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT STUDENTS MAKE SEASON BRIGHT FOR OTHERS

Mary-Janet December 11, 2014

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Before prospective students are admitted to Blinn College’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program, they learn that leadership and service are its quintessential virtues.

The 46 students in the Student Physical Therapist Assistant Association (SPTAA) demonstrated those virtues Wednesday when they gathered to gift wrap over $2,000 worth of gifts they collected for two families in need in Bryan-College Station.

“The community was awesome in helping us make this happen,” said SPTAA Vice President Kara Lilie. “It’s great to see everyone pulling together to make these families’ Christmases a joyous occasion.”

Once a student is admitted to the PTA program, he or she becomes part of the Student Physical Therapist Assistant Association (SPTAA), the official student club of PTA. Over the course of the two-year program, students lead and participate in a number of charitable fundraisers, including their annual Christmas initiative.

SPTAA chose to make the holidays bright this year for a family that lost its home to a fire and a single mother of three who recently moved her family out of poor living conditions. The students divided themselves into committees for the charitable effort; each one dedicated to collecting food, entertainment, décor or personal gifts for each family member.

“I love seeing the students work together in a spirit of giving,” said Instructor Heather Lewis. “Leadership and community service are so valued in our program and it’s wonderful to see the students living it.”

SPTAA extended special thanks to businesses who donated to the effort: Half Priced Books, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Casa Rodriguez, Outback Steakhouse, Grand Station Entertainment, Village Foods, Golden Corral, Maurices, K&S Farm Ranch, Kohl’s, Target, Bath & Body Works and Dowling Electric.

Blinn’s Division of Health Sciences, based at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, offers associate degree nursing, dental hygiene, emergency medical services, physical therapist assistant, radiologic technology, fire science, therapeutics manufacturing, veterinary technology and vocational nursing programs designed to train students for high-demand professions.

Blinn’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program will host an information session for prospective students Jan. 14 at Blinn’s Health Science Center campus located at 8441 State Highway 47 in Bryan. For more information, email pta@blinn.edu.