Health Center and students shine at Chamber Awards Ceremony

PHOTO: Health Center Director Stan Ledington

The Health Center and Walla Walla Public Schools students were in the spotlight Wednesday night during the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards program. The Health Center was named as the 2015 "Not-For-Profit Organization of the Year" and Samuel Wells received first place honors in the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year category. Kosmo Nerdin earned second place accolades in the Youth Entrepreneur category, while Olivia Cassetto went home with a third place recognition.

The Health Center operates school-based health centers at Lincoln High School and Blue Ridge Elementary. Founded in 2008, The Health Center improves the academic and life success of over 700 students at the two highest-need public schools in Walla Walla. The Health Center was the first school-based health center to open in Eastern Washington and it remains the only one that operates as a non-profit organization. The Health Center’s innovative model combines accessible physical care and mental health care as part of resilience-based, wrap-around services offered in concert with partner schools. This strategy is producing documented improvements in the academic and life success of participating students.

“The Health Center is uniquely positioned to nurture children in our community who do not have reliable access to mental and physical health care,” said Superintendent Dr. Bill Jordan. “The Health Center’s services are on-site, no-cost, relationship-based, and customized in collaboration with Lincoln and Blue Ridge, as well as other community organizations.”

Wells, a junior at Walla Walla High School, has his own consulting company specializing in computer and technology services, including social media, smartphone support and software training. Nerdin, a fourth grade student at Green Park Elementary, operates a cookie subscription business. He donates 25 percent of his profits to a church mission savings account. Cassetto, a fourth grade student at Prospect Point, opened her own store which specializes in re-purposing socks into stuffed animals and other fun creations. She is preparing for college by putting half of her proceeds into a college savings account.