San Diego High School Student Maika Adair Wins Seventh Annual HCC/AMN Scholarship

SAN DIEGO, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Maika Adair, a senior at Junipero Serra High School, has been named the recipient of the Seventh Annual HCC/AMN scholarship essay contest presented by the Health Care Communicators (HCC) of San Diego and AMN Healthcare.

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The $1,500 scholarship, provided by AMN Healthcare, is awarded to one college or high school student who is interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare field upon graduation.  Adair was presented with her scholarship check by AMN Healthcare at the HCC's "Finest Awards" event, held April 15, 2010, at the Dana Hotel in Mission Bay.

"We're thrilled to continue our support of aspiring healthcare communicators like Maika," said Carol Burke, AMN Healthcare's Senior Director of Marketing Communications and a former President of HCC.  "During the past seven years we have always sought to recognize and reward individuals who have a vision of how they can contribute as a healthcare communicator," Burke added.  Burke's own contributions to San Diego healthcare communications was recognized by HCC at the April 15 event as she was awarded the organization's prestigious "Communicator of the Year" honor.

Adair is currently enrolled in a biotechnology course through Miramar Community College at her high school, and is interested in pursuing a career in biotechnology.  Her passion and commitment to pursuing science has made her a role model for other young adults interested in science and healthcare careers.  In addition to taking an active role in her education and career aspirations, Adair is also involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities that support her goal of a career in healthcare.  

The theme of this year's scholarship essay contest was "I plan to enter the field of healthcare after college graduation so that I can..." and applicants were asked to submit an essay on the topic and also obtain a letter of recommendation from a teacher or other mentor.

Ericka Senegar-Mitchell, PhD, is Adair's biotechnology instructor and acted as her scholarship sponsor. She noted Adair's passion to pursue a career in healthcare and her unwavering commitment to school activities and community involvement.

"She has also been a valuable member of Science in the City, a high school science outreach program," Senegar-Mitchell wrote in her recommendation letter. "(She is) a mentor to other students in our biotechnology course, a positive role model and "big sister in science" to 15 future female scientists in the Ladies of Science in the City program."

About AMN Healthcare

AMN Healthcare is the nation's leading provider of comprehensive healthcare staffing and management services.  As a leading provider of travel nurse and allied staffing services, locum tenens (temporary physician staffing) and physician permanent placement services, AMN Healthcare recruits and places healthcare professionals on assignments of variable lengths and in permanent positions with clients throughout the United States, who range from acute-care hospitals and physician practice groups to other healthcare settings, including rehabilitation centers, dialysis clinics, pharmacies, home health service providers and ambulatory surgery centers. For more information, visit www.amnhealthcare.com.

About Health Care Communicators of San Diego

Formed in 1977, Health Care Communicators of San Diego (HCC) is an organization committed to helping communicators and marketers fine tune their professional skills and stay in touch with the fast-paced changes in the healthcare, medical and biotech industries.  Our membership includes professionals who work in the field of healthcare, medical devises, pharma and biotech in a variety of specialties.  For more information, visit www.hccsd.org.

SOURCE AMN Healthcare