Alumni Panel Share Personal Experience with Biomed Students

Hendrick Hudson alumni Peter Manthey and Laura Ward were guest speakers during a Biomed Alumni Panel at the Hendrick Hudson High School library on June 2. They shared details about their careers and college pathways with current students and spoke about how their experience as students at Hendrick Hudson provided them with a foundation for their future success.

Manthey, a Class of 2018 graduate, currently works for Croton Emergency Medical Services and in the Emergency Department at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center. Ward, a Class of 2017 graduate, is a Registered Nurse at St. John’s Riverside Hospital who plans on pursing a graduate degree in nursing education.

The event was organized by Biomedical Sciences teacher Dr. Jeanine Hall.

“The Alumni Panel was a great experience for me as a student who is part of the Project Lead the Way Biomed courses,” student Maida Dapcevic said. “I gained a lot of insight on ways to continue my journey to a career in healthcare thanks to Peter and Laura.”

The alumni answered students’ questions on a range of topics, including information about how labs and research are conducted beyond high school.

“It was a relief being able to hear stories of how biomedical classes in high school prepared them for medical school as well as nursing school,” student Sofia Klinger said. “I have not seen many people talk about how the classes they took before college prepared them for the field of medicine. Hearing the alumni tell stories of being able to obtain the job they wanted helped motivate and excite me to continue my education in biomedical sciences.”

“The Biomedical Sciences program helped me realize my passion for healthcare and the nursing field,” Ward said. “From there, I went on to complete my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Pace University and now work in an emergency department. I train new staff, work as a charge nurse, and sit on multiple advisory boards throughout the hospital.”

For students, learning more about these potential career paths was enlightening.

“Hearing from alumni gave me a real perspective on life after high school,” student Nicole Avalos said. “It helped me see how different paths can lead to success, and it motivated me to start thinking more seriously about my future. It was also comforting to hear how they handled challenges and found their way, even if things didn’t go exactly as planned.”