PTC Respiratory Students Receive State Scholarship Award

Three Piedmont Technical College respiratory care students were recently recognized by the South Carolina Society of Respiratory Care (SCSRC) at their annual conference.

Talitha Lewis of Augusta, Ga., Nicole McMurray of Whitmire and Tamara Tate of Lincolnton, Ga. each received one of four $400 scholarships presented to students. The awards were based on either an original essay or a media presentation prepared by the applicant with subject matter that demonstrated clear relevance to the practice of respiratory care or the profession.   

The students’ entries were originally part of their RES 111 curriculum on Pathophysiology and the study of the diseases associated with respiratory care. The students chose a variety of disorders to research. Lewis researched Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP), a rare lung disease that tends to affect young children; McMurray chose the topic of Cri Du Chat syndrome, a rare disease involving the deletion of genes that causes larynx problems; and Tate presented her paper on Psittacosis, an atypical pneumonia also known as Parrot Fever and Ornithosis, usually spread to humans from infected birds in the parrot family.

 “I’m very proud of our students and the success they had,” said Ann Piggott, respiratory care program director. “The scholarship committee is made up of respiratory therapists from across the state, not just educators, so these students are making an impression on the professionals who will eventually be their peers.”

Four scholarships were presented at the conference among the eight technical colleges who have a respiratory care program. The fourth scholarship was presented to a student from Greenville Technical College.

“I think it is impressive that of the four scholarships that were awarded, three came back to Piedmont Tech,” said Piggott. “I think the success of our students speaks volumes to the quality of our respiratory care program.”

Photo Caption: Three Piedmont Technical College respiratory care students were recently recognized by the South Carolina Society of Respiratory Care (SCSRC). Pictured are, from left, Nicole McMurray of Whitmire; Ann Piggott, respiratory care program director; and Talitha Lewis of Augusta, Ga. Not pictured is Tamara Tate of Lincolnton, Ga.