Two recent graduates of Vidalia High School have returned to Vidalia High School to give back to their Alma Mater. Maggie Beach, a former VHS student and HOSA officer, recently donated blood at the Annual VHS Sports Booster Blood Drive. At this blood drive, McLendon Enterprises donates $20 to the sports booster program for every donor who donates blood.

This is the 5th year hosting this particular blood drive," said VHS Advisor Shellie Cleghorn. "In addition to this blood drive, we host three other blood drives throughout the school year on the VHS campus. For each blood drive we have, HOSA earns scholarship money for a graduating senior pursuing a degree in the medical field. Maggie was one of those students to receive this scholarship this past May."

Beach was a HOSA member for all four years and a HOSA Officer for 3 of those four years of her high school career, and Cleghorn says that she can remember Beach helping at many blood drives, even at a young age. "She also couldn't wait to be old enough to actually donate blood at our drives," said Cleghorn. "And sure enough, as soon as she was old enough to donate, Maggie began to do just that. She was always so involved with the blood drives, always willing to help and willing to donate. It was so refreshing to see Maggie return to continue to give back. It was one of those "full circle" moments."

Matlin Mead, also a former VHS student, recently became a member of the CTAE Healthcare Science Advisory Board. The primary purpose of this board is to assist educators in establishing, operating, and evaluating the CTAE program, which serves the needs of the students, the community, and the business/industry partners, and to provide expertise and insight about current/future industry and technological changes.

According to Cleghorn, Mead, who currently attends Georgia Southern University and is employed by Memorial Health Meadows Hospital as a phlebotomist, has always shown an interest in the medical field. "Early on, Matlin demonstrated a strong interest in the medical field," Cleghorn said. "As a student, she always went above and beyond on assignments and actively participated in classroom discussions and projects. Throughout her high school career, Matlin completed all 4 Healthcare Science classes and was an active member and officer for VHS HOSA, taking every opportunity to attend HOSA conferences, activities, and community events. As her former teacher and HOSA advisor, I am so proud to have Matlin as a member of our Advisory Board as I know she will contribute greatly. Another full circle moment!" Cleghorn added.

According to Cleghorn both Mead and Beach have come back to the Healthcare Science classroom as guest speakers this semester.

(Submitted by VHS Communications Director John Koon)