Columbia VA concludes 2025 Summer Student Volunteer Program with celebration of service and future leaders

Now in its 25th year, the Columbia VAHCS' Summer Student Program welcomed students aged 14 to 17 from across the Midlands, with 23 returning participants and 14 first-time volunteers. Together, the students donated nearly 5,500 hours of service throughout the Dorn VA Medical Center.

Each summer, this longstanding program provides students with hands-on experience in various departments—including nursing, administration, logistics, and surgery—while also offering valuable professional development such as CPR training, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) instruction, and communication skill-building workshops.

“The Summer Student Program does more than fill summer schedules—it invests in the future of Veteran care,” said David Brett Vess, Columbia VA Acting Executive Director. “Seeing the energy, commitment, and curiosity our student volunteers brought to our facility each day was nothing short of inspiring.”

Students also took part in team-building events, including the popular International Day, which helped them better understand the global experiences of the Veterans they served. Many students expressed interest in pursuing careers as nurses, dentists, entrepreneurs, and even the Chief of Surgery.

Robert Kappel, a voluntary service specialist and program facilitator, said the goal is to engage young people while they're still in high school and help pique those interests and steer them toward medical science if they're interested, and get them a taste for serving Veterans with the hope of them coming back to serve at the VA.

Over the past 25 years, more than 1,000 students have taken part in the program. This success would not be possible without the dedicated mentors, preceptors, VA staff, and generous sponsors who support the initiative year after year.

 Madelyn Washington is a four-year program participant who volunteered in Columbia VA’s Medical Media Office and was one of four students to be chosen as mentors this year. “I’m doing more leadership this year,” said Washington. “I think it means to just give a guiding hand to lead, not above other students, but amongst them. I don't see myself as a position of being superior.” 

 “I've been taking pictures for a long time in the program, but I think being able to take official portraits was the most interesting thing I've done,” she added.

“This year, for me, has been special since I've been a mentor, along with three other students, leading the other student volunteers,” said Noah Omura, a five-year participant in the summer student program. 

 “It's been a lot more hands-on volunteering than last year,” he added. “I think we've had a stronger Veteran-to-volunteer interaction. This year, my partner, Alex, and I have been working at the Welcome Center where we helped Veterans sign into myHealthevet for appointments and medications.”

 Kappel added that the students have a positive impact on the Veterans. “A lot of times I will see Veterans interacting with our students and they really light up seeing a young person who has taken the time to hand them some cookies or to help them check in for their appointment.”

 Kosi Okaye, a first-time participant in the Summer Student Program, kind of knew what to expect. 

 “My brothers completed the program previously and told me what they did,” said Okaye. 

 When asked about the most interesting thing he did during the program, Okaye said, “Watching the esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedures. Okaye is starting ninth grade this fall and plans on attending the program again next summer.

 “I learned a couple of things like how to roll linen, and I witnessed surgeries that taught me aspects about the anatomy of the human body,” said Jawad Bashir. “Overall, this is a very effective program for me.” 

 Bashir is a rising ninth grader participating for the first time.

 “I think this program has been an exceptional opportunity for me as a student to grow both socially and as a person,” said Omura. “I've gained a lot of exposure. Before, I was a more timid, but thanks to the program, I've been able to flourish.”

 VA staff, mentors, sponsors, students, and their families came together for a graduation ceremony in which each student was individually recognized.  

Yolaunda Mincey, Chief of the Columbia VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement, shared that the ceremony is the heartwarming culmination of eight weeks of learning, service, and personal growth. “Watching our students walk across the stage, knowing all they’ve accomplished, is incredibly rewarding. But what truly moves me is the pride and joy reflected in the faces of their parents and guardians. It’s in those moments that every hour poured into this program feels more than worth it—it feels life-changing.”