My name is Aimee Pickering, and I am from Irwin, Pennsylvania, a suburb about 45 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh. I went to Hempfield Area High School and stayed busy by participating in many clubs and activities. As the president of National Honor Society, I organized service activities, such as collecting and distributing food, clothing, and toys to over 500 needy families in our area. I also served as vice-president of Spanish Honor Society and participated in Interact Club, a volunteer organization.
Since my junior year in high school, I have volunteered with Excela Health, a hospital system in my area. I thoroughly enjoy performing clerical duties at the hospital, assisting in wellness classes, escorting patients, and administering osteoporosis screenings. Volunteering in a hospital setting gives me some exposure to the world of medicine, which I hope to enter one day. Before coming to Pitt, I also taught bible school classes for preschool children at my church, and I will continue to do so over the summer. Additionally, I enjoy playing tennis scrapbooking, playing the clarinet, and collecting nesting dolls. Over the holidays, I found a new hobby or mission, trying to beat my younger brother at MARIO KART for the Wii, which is completely out of character for me because I am not very competitive.
One of the main reasons that I came to the University of Pittsburgh is that the school can offer me so many advantages, especially in the field of medicine. As a research-based institution with the nation's most advanced hospitals, the University of Pittsburgh affords me the opportunity to become involved in many aspects of groundbreaking research and innovation. In addition to the university's educational advantages, I love living just a bus ride away from the diversity that Pittsburgh offers. From plays and concerts to museums and restaurants, the city allows me to experience culture at its best.
When I initially applied to Pitt, I planned to major in biology. However, to be honest, I only chose biology because I am pre-med; the field didn't really interest me. Then I visited the McGowan Institute in Pittsburgh, which focuses on regenerative medicine. My tour of the institute immediately piqued my interest, and I began to research bioengineering. I soon realized that the field of engineering seemed like the perfect fit for me. Engineering, especially bioengineering, will allow me to work with others, use problem-solving skills, help those in need, and still immerse myself in the field of medicine. I know that studying bioengineering at Pitt will not only challenge me, but the field will also provide a stepping stone to my ultimate goal, going to medical school and becoming an orthopedic surgeon. I look forward to the journey that I will embark upon in the Swanson School of Engineering and to the many rewards that I will reap on this challenging venture.
In order to provide the best possible environment in which to educate their students, the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (WPSBC) has a multitude of equipment including wheel chairs, standers, tumble forms, and lavatory assists. The WPSBC wants to conduct an inventory of their equipment along with developing an inventory process that can be used, added to, and maintained. Our team will be locating all of the equipment storage rooms and categorizing each type of equipment using criteria ranging from purpose to cost to frequency of use. In order to create a more effective inventory system, we will be employing bar codes and web-based access, making the inventory readily available to the personnel working at WPSBC. We hope that through this service project, our team will be able to help a facility that already does so much for this community!
Located right here in Oakland, the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children provides a state-of-the-art facility and a one-of-a-kind educational experience for their 175 students. These students, ranging from age three to age 21, not only suffer from blindness, but they also have at least one other physical impairment. However, the WPSBC is well-equipped to provide a better quality of life for these children. In fact, according to the WPSBC, "no other agency in the Western half of the Commonwealth is better equipped to care for and educate blind children with severe concomitant disabilities." The dedicated staff at the WPSBC provide each student with an educational experience created for their specific needs. As a result, the students learn how to communicate using technology, and they learn to travel safely in their surroundings. Because of their early training program, many blind pre-school children are able to successfully attend public school. Additionally, the WPSBC provides their students with life and vocational skills like living in an apartment or working in a store. The school also allows the children to participate in a myriad of social activities. The WPSBC provides its services at no cost to parents so it relies on money from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania along with funding and grants from foundations and individuals.
For more information on the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children please visit: www.wpsbc.org