Genesee Health Plan and Sovita Credit Union award student winners of Health Heritage Essay and Scholarship Contests

Grand Blanc, Powers Catholic teachers recognized for most student participation

FLINT – This week, Genesee Health Plan (GHP) recognized teachers and students who participated in the Fifth Annual Health Heritage Essay and Scholarship Contests, sponsored by Sovita Credit Union, during private ceremonies this week. Each year, students from across Genesee County reflect on their family health histories and how it will impact their current and future health through the contest.

“As we continue to see the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, health has never been more important for young people to understand and we’re proud to help encourage and facilitate conversations about family health history,” said Jim Milanowski, GHP President and CEO.

This year, 90 students participated in the contests.

Lyniece McNair-Levi, a health science teacher at Grand Blanc High School, offered the scholarship essay contest as an opportunity for her students to earn bonus points.

Lyniece McNair-Levi and Azalea McNair-Levi of Grand Blanc.

“This assignment gave students the opportunity to openly discuss disease with their immediate and extended family,” McNair-Levi said. “Oftentimes diseases and conditions within certain communities and families are not openly discussed, especially with kids. However, as a school assignment, I feel family members are more likely to be open and students are more comfortable in asking questions.”

Pearl Rosenmund, the science department chair at Powers Catholic High School, provided the scholarship essay opportunity with her anatomy and physiology students and HOSA-Future Health Professionals students as an optional writing opportunity.

Pearl Rosenmund, teacher at Powers Catholic High School.

“The students who participated in this contest were able to reflect on their own health habits and the health habits of their family,” Rosenmund said. “It was also an opportunity for them to think about what improvements could be made to their own lifestyle to maintain or improve their health.”

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, GHP and Sovita Credit Union awarded two $1,500 Health Career Scholarship checks to Joslynn Ridley, a 2020 graduate of Goodrich High School, and Breanna Trecha, a 2020 graduate of Fenton High School, during a small, invite-only outdoor ceremony.

Joslynn Ridley, 2020 graduate of Goodrich High School

“Health care has never been more important, and we will always need health care professionals,” said Ridley, who plans to attend University of Michigan-Flint with the goal of becoming either a doctor or physician assistant. “When I was 14, I was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. However, despite the challenge, my hospital experience has led me to what I want to do in life.”

“A few of my family members were diagnosed

Breanna Trecha, 2020 graduate of Fenton High School

with Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disease that can cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass,” said Trecha, who plans to pursue a degree in Pharmaceutical Science at the University of Toledo. “I believe I can make a difference to help people who are suffering and one day be part of the cure that will end the fight against MD.”

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, GHP and Sovita Credit Union honored seven students and both teachers during an outdoor drive-thru award ceremony. The contest winners were:

Olivia Vance

Elementary (grades 5 and 6 only)

• First Place ($200 gift card): Olivia Vance, homeschooled, 6^th Grade
• Second Place ($100 gift card): Evelyn Eickholt of Flushing, 5^th Grade

Middle/Junior High School

• First Place ($200 gift card): Kennedy Byrd, Genesee Christian School, 8^th Grade
• Second Place: ($100 gift card):
  • Azalea McNair, Grand Blanc Middle School, 7^th Grade
    

    Kennedy Byrd

  • Karlie Roseberry, Davison Middle School, 8^th Grade
    

    Evelyn Eickholt

High School

• First Place ($400 gift card): Bianca Ramo, Grand Blanc High School, 11^th Grade
• Second Place ($200 gift card): Diamond Richardson, Grand Blanc High School, 11^th Grade

The winning teachers were:

• Lyniece McNair-Levi, teacher at Grand Blanc High School ($400 gift card)
• Pearl Rosenmund, teacher at Powers Catholic High School ($300 gift card)
  

  Diamond Richardson

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Genesee Health Plan (GHP) is Genesee County’s plan for better health which began with the vision to have a community where each person has equal and affordable opportunity to live a healthy life. GHP is a nonprofit health care organization that was launched in 2001 to provide health care coverage and life-saving services to the uninsured residents of Genesee County. The plan has provided more than 90,000 county residents with doctor’s visits, cancer screenings, prescription drugs, X-rays and many more life-saving services since 2001. Learn more about GHP at geneseehealthplan.org or call 844.232.7740.