Local News - September 2003

LMC adopts North

Published September 1, 2003

By SARAH GRANO, Staff Writer

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Lincoln North Lincoln High School has plenty of Band-Aids and latex gloves now that it’s been adopted by Lincoln Medical Center.

The hospital adopted the school over the summer, and it adopted S. Ray Lowder Elementary 10 years ago.

 “I think more than anything it’s just a chance to show that we’re a community hospital,” said Courtney Myers, community relations coordinator at Lincoln Medical Center.

“We’re here to serve the needs of the people, and that doesn’t just happen internally.”

Since they have become adopted schools, North Lincoln and S. Ray Lowder have received donations from the hospital in cash and supplies.

“We know that they’ll come through for us,” said Chip Kathy, an assistant principal at S. Ray Lowder.

“They have provided us with a lot of supplies and volunteers.”

North Lincoln is learning what it is to be an adopted school.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been adopted as a principal,” said Rick Freeman, the principal at North Lincoln.

“I think we’ve already gained a good bit.”

The school has received everything from Band-Aids for the teachers’ classrooms to a banner fans can hold during sports games.

One of the larger donations was made to North Lincoln’s Knight Pride Program, which gives rewards to students with good attendance and rising GPAs.

Students at the high school will also be able to get an up close and personal look at physicians working on the sports field.

“Rather than having the students all come to the hospital, we’re going to come to them,” Myers said.

“Anybody interested in sports medicine or physical therapy will have a great opportunity to learn directly from a doctor.”

North Lincoln students will be able to assist an athletic trainer during practices and games.

The way Lincoln Medical Center approaches its new adopted school will be different than the way it deals with S. Ray Lowder.

“At a high school we can grow future health care providers,” Myers said.

“Hopefully, they’ll stay in the community, and maybe they’ll want to come work for us as nurses or physicians.”

Both S. Ray Lowder and the hospital are pleased with their 10 year relationship.

Every Christmas every child at the school receives a present.

The school also has health fairs and are given necessities like copy paper.

In turn the hospital receives thank-you cards from the students.

“They write cute little notes and things,” Myers said.

“One of them wrote ‘I hate that you have to work all day long at the hospital.’”

Cards and posters made by S. Ray Lowder students often line the halls of the hospital.

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Staff Writer Sarah Grano can be reached at 704-735-3031 or sgrano@ltnews.com.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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