As a grassroots volunteer-driven organization, HealthFinders Collaborative (HFC) is appreciative and grateful of the community partnership we continue to have with Carleton and St. Olaf College. This year alone, 18 student leaders from the graduating class of 2020 served as clinic assistants, interpreters, receptionists, fundraisers, and community advocates. We are in constant awe of the passion, initiative, and drive that our student volunteers have for addressing health disparities within our Rice County community. We hope their time with HFC plays a lasting role in their post graduate life and reinforces their commitment to civic engagement. Regardless of our inability to hold a celebration in honor of your academic and personal accomplishments, we still commend you - our 2020 Graduates! St. Olaf College Graduates: Boraan Abdulkarim, Stein Acker, Zvipo Chisango, Neetij Krishnan, Hayley Mans, Molly Nakahara, Shreeya Potdar, Yadi Quintanilla, Sara Spanjers, Savannah Stevens, and Maritza Wiedel. Carleton College Graduates: Sarah Finstuen – Magro, David Galambos, Daniel Johnson, Sean MacDonell, Quinn McVeigh, Katie Paasche, Andrew Sauer. Read student testimonials shared with us:
Boraan Abdulkarim
“My favorite part of volunteering at HealthFinders as an interpreter was the feeling of putting a patient at ease. The ability and importance of sharing a common language to make somebody feel more comfortable and more understood is a value that has been reinforced in me for life. I will carry it everywhere. At the clinic I felt truly in touch with the Northfield community.’’
Daniel Johnson“HealthFinders meant so much to me during my time at Carleton. I started off by chasing kids around and trying to teach them about fruits and vegetables, and I discovered an incredibly passionate team dedicated to making their community a better place. I'm proud to have been a part of HealthFinders!”
Neetij Krishnan“The most important thing I learned from my time with HealthFinders is the value of listening. This can mean paying attention to the words a patient is using, especially if they're speaking a different language. It can also mean noticing how they talk about their routines and their place in the narrative of their life. Every patient deserves to be addressed as the protagonist of their own story, in a way that reaches them as a human being. That's what the doctors and patients of HealthFinders have taught me.”
Hayley Mans“I began volunteering at HealthFinders my sophomore year at St. Olaf. With the help of some incredible staff, I was able to dive right into practical ways of volunteering at the Northfield clinic. From reception, to Spanish interpreting and clinic assistant roles, I felt like my skills were put to good use, and I felt so supported throughout the process. Through the St. Olaf HealthFinders club, we also had the opportunity to promote HFC on campus and facilitate connections between students and the clinics through educational and fundraising events. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all the clinicians, interpreters, receptionists, staff, and other volunteers who taught me about non-profit work and inspired me to work towards health equity through practical service. Though I wish I could have spent more time at the clinic, I will always cherish the memories I have with this team and watching HFC grow”
Quinn McVeigh“Volunteering at HealthFinders has been a crucial part of my time in Northfield. The staff, doctors, and nurses were so helpful and patient as I learned how to work the system, and when I forgot my password and had to try to login in 23 times. I feel blessed to have been a part of this beautiful community and witness the compassion it extends to everyone.”
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