Emporia, VA (August 8, 2011) – Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center (SVRMC) recently held a commencement program to recognize the students who participated in the 2011 Summer Teen Volunteer Program. This year’s class consisted of ten young ladies and three young men between the ages of 14 and 18. Participants were asked to submit a work schedule to the program’s coordinator, Cynthia Mason-Kemp, RN, choosing to work either 6 or 3 hr. shifts depending on the student’s availability. Department managers from within the hospital submitted volunteer needs to Ms. Kemp, who provided assignments to the students daily. This year’s class rotated through the Southern Virginia Medical Group, Nutritional Services, Emergency Department, Rehab. Services, Registration, Progressive Care, Outpatient Services, Radiology, Laboratory, Business Office, Medical Records, Human Resources, Senior Circle and Materials Management. Students were also given the opportunity to take the American Heart Association’s Heart Saver Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid.

Special recognition was given to the volunteers who completed the program with the highest number of hours volunteered. The students with the most hours volunteered were Michael Grizzard with 168 hours, Christian Rodriguez with 158 hours and Elizabeth Gund with 141 hours. Special recognition was given to Michael Grizzard for the “Most Team Spirit”, and Amber Ellis was awarded this year’s “Outstanding Teen Volunteer” award. All total, 1446.5 hours were worked by the ten students who participated in the 2011 Summer Teen Volunteer Program.

After the awards were presented, the teen volunteers and their families were invited to join hospital staff for a reception in their honor.

For additional information on the SVRMC Summer Teen Volunteer Program or to request an application for next year, contact Cynthia Mason-Kemp, RN, Director of Educational Services at 434-348-4456.

L-R Front Row - Cynthia Mason-Kemp, RN, Teen Volunteer Program Coordinator, LaShun
Pouncy, Amber Ellis, Ariel Bell, Marian Gilliam, Taishana Powell, Christian Rodriguez, Michael
Grizzard. Back Row - Allen Meredith, Taylor Givens, Maura Smith, Elizabeth Gund, Victoria
Timmons, Larissa Jackson, Brit Phelps, CEO.

Cynthia Mason-Kemp with Teen Volunteer of the Year, Amber Ellis

Cynthia Mason-Kemp with the Top Three Teen Volunteers for Most Hours Worked,
Third Place, Elizabeth Gund, Second Place Christian Rodriguez, and First Place
Michael Grizzard. Michael Grizzard was also recognized as this year's Teen Volunteer
for Most Team Spirit.