Colonial Hills Student Athletes selected to attend Summer Medical Program

Douglasville residents, Colonial Hills Christian School classmates, and best friends, Crystal Nicole Deas and Taize Assanté Turner are proving that a strong friendship bonds the heart and mind.  Deas and Turner were recently selected to participate in the 2011 Student Educational Enrichment Program (SEEP) at Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in Augusta from June 4, 2011 through July 22, 2011.  SEEP is a 7-week, academic program for pre-college and college students interested in health professions and who are underrepresented in the health careers. The objectives of SEEP is to enrich students' knowledge of biomedical sciences, to familiarize students with educational opportunities at MCG, to help students identify their specific career goals, and to enhance students' competitiveness for admission to health professions schools.

Deas and Turner competed for SEEP with students from over 60 Georgia schools.  To date, 574 junior and senior high school students have participated in the program and 93% enrolled in college following the program.  “I was honored to apply for such a prestigious program,” states Deas, “but, it is more an honor to be accepted by SEEP because my father, who is a dentist, was in the same program during his high school years”.  Deas’ father is Dr. Brian S. Deas, a prominent dentist and owner of Creekside Dental, Inc. in Douglasville.

Rising seniors, Deas and Turner met at Colonial Hills Christian School in the sixth grade. They have remained inseparable, sharing very similar life goals and accomplishments. Both are repeat honor roll students and in the top five percent of their class. They are active in National Honor Society, Beta Club, and Student Government. They are also members of the volleyball team and cheerleading squad.

The two friends plan to enroll in college in 2012 to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree for a professional career in healthcare.  Deas desires to attend college on the East Coast and Turner has made plans the West Coast. Turner shares, “Being selected for this program is a continuation of our goals.  Besides helping me to decide the area of healthcare I want to pursue, I will be able to take college level courses, make new friends and experience campus life.”  Deas and Turner look forward to another great summer!

Written by: Pam Deas