The Health Career Opportunity Programs held its Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative Doctors Academy Annual Academic Year Program Closing and Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, May 20. The event marked the culmination of a successful academic year for 114 participants of the Great Explorations Program, Jumpstart Program, Junior Doctors Academy, and Senior Doctors Academy by increasing the number of underrepresented students from the Hartford area interested in the health professions.
The highlight of the evening for the participants and parents was watching the 20 students in the Seniors Doctors Academy receive white coats as part of their graduation from the program before embarking on their journey to college. Two of these recipients, Anika Bennett and I’Jaaz Muhammad, were awarded the John and Valerie Rowe Scholarship and will be entering the University of Connecticut as Rowe Honors Scholars. Also among this group, 12 will be matriculating at the University of Connecticut, six will be matriculating at other universities in Connecticut, and two will be attending universities out of state. The keynote speaker for the evening was State Representative Douglas McCrory, Deputy Majority Leader, 7th Assembly District of Hartford.