 Respiratory Therapy students Angela Chapman, Rachael Clifford and Niya Hagans (left to right) celebrate their first-place finish in the annual Sputum Bowl competition, which took place in Winston-Salem this month. |
WINSTON-SALEM�Respiratory Therapy students from Pitt Community College will move on to a national quiz bowl competition in December after winning the annual Sputum Bowl this month, during the N.C. Society for Respiratory Care (NCSRC) Conference. With the victory, Niya Hagans, Angie Chapman and Rachael Clifford each received a trophy and $1,500 to compete in the national quiz bowl event, which will take place during the American Association of Respiratory Care�s conference in Anaheim, California. PCC, which won the Sputum Bowl in 2003 before the event had national implications, actually finished first and second in this year�s competition as both of the college�s teams made it to the finals. Taking second was the PCC team comprised of Ashley Koonce Nobles, Casey King and Robbie Johnson III. �I think this win speaks highly of the amount of work the students have put into their education to this point,� said Wendy Ayscue, department chair of Respiratory Therapy and Polysomnography at PCC. �They were being quizzed on all aspects of respiratory care, even though they have not completed the entire curriculum.� In addition to the first-place student finish, Ayscue and Rusty Sugg, director of clinical education for Pitt�s Respiratory Therapy program, were victorious in the Sputum Bowl�s practitioner round. The two teamed with a pair of respiratory therapists from Pitt County Memorial Hospital to win the event and earn a spot in the national competition, though Ayscue will be unable to attend. According to Donna Neal, dean of PCC�s Health Sciences Division, the Sputum Bowl has been held for practitioners for the past 20 years. The student competition was added several years ago, she said, adding that PCC has had student teams make the finals since the 2003 victory but none have brought home the trophy, until now. "PCC representatives winning both the student and practitioner national competition would set a new tradition for Respiratory Therapy and our college,� Neal said. In other news from the NCSRC Conference: � Second-year student Sara Caras, was awarded a $350-scholarship from the NCSRC. The scholarship is awarded annually to students in need of financial assistance. � Dr. Robert Shaw, Medical Director for PCC�s Respiratory Therapy program, was awarded Physician of the Year by the NCSRC based on a nomination by Ayscue and Dean. Shaw, who has served as medical director of the program since its inception in 1983, was recognized for his years of service to Pitt�s Respiratory Therapy curriculum and his continued commitment to the students, faculty and program.
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