Roots to Wings visits YV-Tech for an inspiring glimpse at the wealth of health sciences opportunities available in our Valley.
The Roots to Wings (RTW) program recently visited the Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center (YV-Tech) to explore the wealth of health programs offered by the local partnering institution, which provides free academic and hands-on technical career training to high school students from sixteen local school districts.
Alongside their PNWU student doctor co-mentors, and led by students from YV-Tech, local middle and high school students enrolled in RTW toured YV-Tech’s campus, gaining firsthand insight into a variety of programs seeking inspired young minds like theirs to transform the future of healthcare.
“There’s an entire world of science and health professions out there,” said Student Doctor Munif Chowdhury, PNWU-COM Class of 2026, who serves as a RTW co-mentor. By exposing students to that wide world of opportunity, Student Dr. Chowdhury hopes to help them uncover their personal passions and talents. “This collaboration expands the number of disciplines that the high schoolers can experience, and hopefully, pursue in the future.”
“This opens doors for students to be able to experience opportunities that are located within their home community,” said Lillie Wesley, a student at Heritage University volunteering with PNWU’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (ODEIB). “It shows RTW students that there is a community out there that will support them the whole way.”
“This opens doors for students to be able to experience opportunities that are located within their home community.”
“Sometimes, our goals are much more attainable than they may think,” added RTW Program Coordinator Rona Cigner. “Finding ways to pique the students’ curiosity will hopefully engage and empower them to see the possibilities of what’s available for them in their own backyard.”
