HSSEP Spells Success

The HSU Health Science Department held the first Health Sciences Summer Enrichment Program (HSSEP) during the weeks of June 20-July 3, 2015. The program was an in-residence camp for rising high school students or incoming HSU freshman, interested in pursuing health-related careers.

The program’s main focus was to help build student confidence and skills to master science and math at the college level in preparation for the healthcare track, while also exposing students to HSU’s campus.

Dr. Jennifer Hennigan professor of biology and assistant coordinator for the camp, said, “We observed students making strong connections with HSU, which we anticipate will increase the likelihood they enroll here. HSSEP provides a great in-depth way to recruit some top students from the Big Country who are interested in a healthcare career.”

Students spent 12 days on campus taking biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and short math classes. Students were also taken on a tour of both the Patty Hanks School of Nursing and the Physical Therapy School. Aside from experiencing HSU, students had a panel discussion with local physicians, dentists and Texas Tech pharmacy students.  

Daisa Whitton, incoming freshman from Cleburne, said, “This camp solidified my decision to go into the Pre-med program at HSU. I absolutely loved exploring the campus and learning where everything was. I loved this camp.”

The camp also involved current HSU students. Their job was to help monitor classes and labs, and lead activities at the end of the day such as movies in the basement of photo scavenger hunts on campus.

Austin Williamson, junior composite science education major from Kermit, Texas, said, “I chose to help with this camp not only to be a part of the kids’ lives, but with mine as well. I am going to be a teacher and wanted to see if I could actually picture being a part of the science program at a high school.”

The Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) provided generous funding for this project, which allowed many of the students to receive full scholarships for the camp.

For more information on the program or the Health Science Department visit https://www.hsutx.edu/hssep/.