Putnam Health Students Get Taste of College Life at AIC

SPRINGFIELD — Health students at Putnam Vocational High School in Springfield had a chance to experience college first-hand recently when they paid a visit to American International College.

More than 60 Putnam students took part in the program.

After a brief orientation, the students toured the campus before heading off to the nursing lab.

Dressed in blue scrubs, the Putnam students had the opportunity to work with Sim Man, the mannequin training tool that can simulate different illnesses and injuries.

Roseanne Westcott, alumni and clinical instructor at Putnam in the Health Sciences program, said it’s important to expose the students to college while they are still in high school.

“As juniors and seniors, the students are already thinking about college, and this program gives them the opportunity to what a day in the life of a college student is like,” she said.

After the nursing lab, the students witnessed a demonstration of physical therapy and then sat in on a chemistry class.

Kim LeBlanc, freshman admissions director at AIC, said having the Putnam students visit AIC is a good fit. “These students are interested in health sciences, and we offer outstanding programs in nursing physical therapy and occupational therapy.”

The program concluded with lunch in the Dining Commons followed by a meeting with AIC admissions counselors.