Students in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Wallace State Community College pose with representatives of Footprints Ministry. Pictured from left, are, in front: Erica Barnhouse (Decatur), Gloria Delaney (Madison), Ashley Acker (Huntsville), Alena Jakway (Cullman), Katie Bowers and her children Pearce and Irene, and Michelle Nali with daughter Skylar; middle: Joy Calloway (Fultondale), Makayla Owens (Moulton), Jeri Todd (Gardendale), Courtney McCloud (Bridgeport), Erica Roberson (Double Springs), Leigh-Allison Lybrand (Boaz), Neeki McNeely (Huntsville), Katelyn Bunt (Ragland), Courtney Jones (Muscle Shoals), and Lyndsey Lunn (Moulton); back: Donna Attaway (DMS Clinical Coordinator), Brooke McMoy (Phoenix City), Amber Loftis (Pell City), Becky Fox (Pelham), Payton Chittam (Athens), Katie Smith (Lousiville, KY), Taylor Shewbart (Meridianville), Jessica Batson (Pell City), Ashton Adderhold (Muscle Shoals), and April Sutherland (DMS Program Director). Not pictured: LaShauna McBride (Pisgah)
HANCEVILLE – Students in Wallace State Community College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program collected more than $2,400 to give to the Footprints Ministry out of Huntsville. The group exceeded the previous year’s donation of $1,700 with their donation of $2,447.23.
Footprints Ministry is an outreach program assisting families dealing with premature birth. They provide gift bags that include items like packs of tissues, blankets, gift cards for gas and/or food and other items that families who rushed to the hospital during an unexpected emergency may need.
The food cards are especially helpful said Footprint Ministry’s Katie Bowers. “Those moms won’t leave the hospital,” she said, and will eat packs of crackers and other snacks from vending machines or gas stations. The food cards help provide them with more nutritional offerings that can be brought in by family members. The gas card help parents get to the hospital to see their children more often.
The donation from Wallace State’s DMS program will go to provide special Christmas stockings for families at participating hospitals during the Christmas holiday. Bowers said the stockings would include a bib inscribed with “My First Christmas” along with the other offerings from Footprints Ministry.
Four DMS students were recognized as the top donors for the annual drive. LaShauna McBride of Pisgah brought in the most donations, with Jessica Batson of Pell City, Katelyn Bunt of Ragland and Courtney McCloud of Bridgeport rounding out the top four.
Wallace State’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a four-semester program after completion of general required courses. Applications are accepted from May 1 through June 1 of each year for fall entry; 25 students are accepted each year. This year, the program offered a vascular short-term certificate as an additional option for students.
For more information, contact April Sutherland at 256-352-8318 or april.sutherland@wallacestate.edu or visit www.wallacestate.edu.
