Grant Funding Enables Student to Put Calling into Action
Grant monies have enabled students like Samford junior Vikki Willis to put her genuine calling to assist the people of the Black Belt into action. In May, the biology/nursing double major completed her second year as an intern in Perry County.
During that time, she organized special projects ranging from a clothing bank to a book give-away. She organized the 2006 Student Ministries spring mission trip, during which students visited public schools, held health screenings and worked at the downtown thrift store. The volunteers also met with community leaders, including Sowing Seeds of Hope Executive Director Frances Ford and Judson College President Dr. David Potts '72, M.S.E. '78.
Willis used her health-care background to assist Dr. Dan Sandifer-Stech, former director of SIM, in creating a unique Care is Calling program for students in health-related majors.
About 35 students nominated by faculty in Samford's health-care disciplines of pharmacy, premedicine, nursing, and exercise science and sports medicine participated in the first Care is Calling, which offered an intense look at integrating faith and vocation. During the spring semester, students met in special workshops on the topic. The goal, said Willis, was that students be "challenged to think of serving and living life beyond themselves."
The 2006 Care is Calling project culminated with an extensive health fair at Marion's Berean Baptist Church following the April 23 Sunday worship service. During the two-hour fair, the Samford team screened 32 adults for vision, hypertension, temperature, pulse rates and height/weight. There was a diabetes education booth and a pediatric screening station for youngsters.
"Because of the disparities of health care within Perry County, SIM's Care is Calling program has the wonderful opportunity to build bridges between patients and the free clinics Samford offers," observed Willis.
