Somerset County VoTech Students Raise Money to Support Cancer Research

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Members of the Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) chapter of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), a student organization for future health professionals, recently completed a fundraising drive to support breast cancer research.

HOSA club members collected dollar donations from SCVTHS students and staff, as well as the local community. Donors filled out cards that contained inspirational messages to memorialize their gift. The cards were then incorporated into a display outside the school’s guidance office.

The money that was collected will be donated to “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” a national campaign sponsored by the American Cancer Society that funds breast cancer research, provides information and support services, and helps people to reduce breast cancer risk through early detection. HOSA has been running the event for more than 15 years, and this year more than $435 was raised.

Tatiana Murillo of North Plainfield, a senior in the SCVTHS Health Occupations program, summed up the experience by saying "It feels gratifying to know we are helping to contribute to change."

The students included:

• Genesis Calles Guardado of Somerset
• Sarah Bahnasy of Bound Brook
• Estafania Carino of South Bound Brook
• Ivy Aiyegbo of Franklin Park
• Yvanjalis Romero of Manville
• Alessia Capodiferro of North Plainfield
• Shane Killimett of North Plainfield
• Matthew Boyce of Hillsborough
• Valeria Reinoso of Hillsborough
• Tatiana Murillo of North Plainfield
• Anya Konduru of Hillsborough
• Yveth Aldaz of Bound Brook
• Narielys Gutierrez of South Bound Brook