MONROE, Mich. – Last month, Monroe County Community College respiratory therapy program students won the Michigan Society for Respiratory Care’s “Sputum Bowl” knowledge competition.
The statewide competition, held during the MSRC Conference in Kalamazoo, operated like most college bowl competitions – in a “Jeopardy-like” format with teams of three from each college, questions about respiratory care, fast reflexes, buzzers, and, in MCCC’s case, plenty of correct answers. Ten teams from colleges across the state competed, including the 11-time and reigning champions, Macomb Community College.
The win qualifies the MCCC teams for the American Association for Respiratory Care National Sputum Bowl competition in New Orleans, La., in November.
The respiratory therapy program’s participation in the competition was made possible by a $1,600 Enhancement Grant in 2018 from The Foundation at Monroe County Community College. The Enhancement Grants Program assists faculty, staff and students by funding the development and implementation of innovative projects that support the MCCC mission.
During a recent awards presentation for the 2019 Enhancement Grants Program, Dr. Ijaz Ahmed, director of respiratory therapy, stressed how important the support of donors and The Foundation is to the students in the program and their ability to participate in state and national conferences and competitions.
“The Sputum Bowl benefits our respiratory students by helping them develop a sense of connection to the larger professional community, builds social bonds between classmates and exposes students to state and national experts in this field,” said Ahmed. “The Enhancement Grants we have received from The Foundation in recent years have helped make this valuable experience for our students possible.”
“The Enhancement Grants Program puts an emphasis on spurring creative and innovative ideas that have a visible and substantive impact on the campus or the community,” said Dr. Josh Myers, executive director of The Foundation. “Efforts like this that provide students with out-of-classroom, non-traditional learning opportunities and professional experiences are the kinds of things donors to the Foundation make possible.”
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition. The college’s mission is to enrich lives in our community by providing opportunity through student-focused, affordable, quality higher education and other learning experiences. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located in Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.
About The Foundation at Monroe County Community College
The Foundation at Monroe County Community College is a community-based, charitable organization dedicated to the educational, literary, scientific, cultural and financial enhancement of MCCC. Established in 1999, The Foundation strengthens the community by enriching the academic and cultural experience, touching thousands of lives each year through its support for cultural arts, scholarships and educational programs that guide and shape the civic leaders of tomorrow. For more information about the Foundation and ways to donate or support its mission visit www.monroeccc.edu/foundation.