St. Clair County Community College student Kristyn Franzel has been named Michigan’s 2019 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship.  New Century Transfer Pathway Scholars are selected based on their academic accomplishments, leadership, activities, and how they extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. Over 2,000 students were nominated from more than 1,200 college campuses across the country. Only one New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar is selected from each state.  The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).  “We congratulate Kristyn Franzel for receiving this prestigious scholarship, and we are honored to partner with the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation and the AACC to recognize her outstanding achievements,” said Phi Theta Kappa’s President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “Scholarship programs like this are integral for creating opportunities for two-year college students to succeed and for putting college completion within reach.”  The New Century Transfer Pathway Scholars will be recognized at Phi Theta Kappa’s Presidents Breakfast in Orlando, Florida, on April 15 during the AACC Convention.  “I am beyond blessed for this opportunity and to be bestowed the honor of New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar,” Franzel said. “St. Clair County Community College and Phi Theta Kappa have held such an important place in my life and being affiliated with them will be crucial to my success in the future.”  A Sandusky High School graduate and Clyde, Michigan, resident, Franzel will soon graduate from SC4 with an Associate of Science degree and has plans to transfer to Oakland University to pursue a mathematics degree with a specialization in secondary education.  Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of community college students to grow as scholars and leaders. The society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 nations. Learn more at ptk.org.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury (ABI) are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and disability in the United States. To bring awareness to this often-preventable injury, March has been declared Brain Injury Awareness Month.  Falls, motor vehicle accidents and sports-related trauma are leading causes of TBIs and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging residents to learn about injury prevention strategies to keep themselves and their families safe.  An ABI is a form of brain injury that an individual sustains, or acquires, after birth. This includes TBIs and medical issues as a stroke. A TBI is any injury that occurs to the brain. It is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. TBIs may affect cognitive function, motor function, sensation and emotional function.  “Prevention strategies can greatly reduce the risk for traumatic brain injuries and death,” said Robert Gordon, MDHHS director. “This can include removing hazards in and around the home such as rugs and clutter in walkways, keeping sports safe by wearing protective gear including helmets and always wearing a seatbelt while in a vehicle.”  Nationally, the total cost of emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths related to traumatic brain injuries, either alone or in combination with other injuries, exceeds $76.5 billion annually.  In 2017, 11,585 people in Michigan were hospitalized for a TBI. Among Michigan residents who died of an injury, 1,748 had a TBI listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate.  Observable signs of traumatic brain injury may include appearing dazed or stunned, forgetting an instruction, moving clumsily, answering questions slowly, losing consciousness, showing mood, behavior or personality changes and being unable to recall events prior to and/or after a hit or fall.  For more information on TBIs, visit Cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury.  For more tips to keep your home safe, visit Cpsc.gov, and Safekids.org.  More information about sports concussions is available at Michigan.gov/sportsconcussion. Additional resources for seniors for classes to prevent falls and improve mobility and independence may be found at Greatatanyagemi.com.    

Operation Transformation is a local, faith-based organization that works together with civic and service organizations to develop ways to meet the needs of our community. OT is hosting an Open House on  Thursday, March 21st from 9am – 3pm at their office building located at 1904 Poplar Street, in Port Huron. Everyone is welcome to come meet the staff, learn more about OT’s major projects and enjoy some light refreshments.  Operation Transformation is also launching a 1-day campaign of concentrated giving called “Spring Ahead” on the same day. According to Terry Kuhns, OT Associate,  they are asking friends and supporters to help OT “Spring Ahead” financially (during the leaner winter months) by making a donation by check or cash; giving can also be done by credit card online at www.optrans.org/support or by calling the OT office at 810-966-8660.  He says their goal this year is to raise $20,000! We have $10,000 in matching funds, so donations up to that amount will be doubled! Kuhns said, If you believe in the mission of Operation Transformation, please consider making a contribution and help us take advantage of this very generous opportunity on March 21st!  

Today is the first day of Spring which means it is time for the Annual Dinner For Kids’ Sake.  The dinner will be held at the Blue Water Convention Center at 800 Harker Street in Port Huron on Thursday, April 11 from 6 to 10 p.m.  This year’s theme is “Denim and Diamonds”.  Attendees are welcome to wear your denim, a gown, or anything in between, but, they say definitely your diamonds.  According to Sherri Archibald of the St. Clair County Child Abuse/Neglect Council,  this will be a fantastic evening with lots of great silent auction items and one lucky guest will walk away with a one carat diamond.  All proceeds will go to benefit the St. Clair County Child Abuse/Neglect Council.  If you have any questions, please call 810-966-9911- Registration at $50 per person may be made on line at sccstopchildabuse.org

McLaren Port Huron will offer a four-week program to help individuals quit smoking. Fresh Start to Quit Smoking takes place Mondays, April 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2:30- 3:30 p.m., in the McLaren Port Huron Jefferson Building. The Jefferson Building is located at 1320 Washington Avenue, Port Huron.  Are you ready to make a fresh start and quit smoking? This program will provide you the tools to help you quit. You will select your quit day during the third class. This is a four-session program. Participants must attend all four sessions and new participants cannot join after the first class.  This program is free, but registration is required.  To register or for more information call HealthAccess at 1-800-228-1484 or visit www.mclaren.org/phevents.

More than 100 volunteers, hospital employees and local emergency responders will took part in a mock disaster drill on Friday, March 15, 2019 at Lake Huron Medical Center. The drill tested the preparedness and response of local, regional and state agencies should a real crisis occur. The event staged by Lake Huron Medical Center’s Trauma Services, Betty Falecki, focused on response plans for an actual disaster which would trigger a sudden surge of patients, media, concerned community members and the “worried well” to the hospital.  The full-scale mass-casualty drill was conducted in collaboration with multiple partner agencies including Lake Huron Medical Center, Port Huron Police and Fire Departments, Tri Hospital EMS, and St. Clair County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  “The goal of this exercise is to enhance working relationships and collaboration between the agencies and organizations involved,” Falecki said. “It’s a mock exercise, but it’s also a very real test of our ability to respond to an actual disaster. We appreciate the cooperation of everyone involved.”  The scenario for the practice event is a simulated active shooter, who has targeted administration.  Normal hospital Emergency Department operations and patient care was not affected by the drill in any way.  While hospitals are required by the Joint Commission to have disaster response plans in place and conduct periodic drills for improvement and training purposes, Lake Huron Medical Center takes the healthcare safety of the community very seriously and is devoted to providing the highest quality care available in the Blue Water Area.

For more information on the programs and events at Lake Huron Medical Center, please visit  www.mylakehuron.com.