Tri-County Senior Serves on Winning Team at Annual
Medical Laboratory Technology College Bowl Competition

CONTACT: DALLAS JONES, EXT. 2175

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/5/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- A Tri-County Technical College senior served on the winning team at the annual Medical Laboratory Technology College Bowl competition.

Artika Patel, of Anderson, a Medical Laboratory Technology major, was a member of the team that took home the state championship award, and she tied for answering the most questions correctly at the competition held at Midlands Technical College recently.

Four Tri-County seniors were selected by classmates to serve on teams comprised of students from eight technical colleges in the state. Other team members included Cassandra Royce of Seneca, Sharon Simmons of Starr, and Tracy Bergeson of Salem. Margie Cain of Seneca was an alternate.

"These are national-registry style questions and are very difficult," said Dallas Jones, who has led the department since its inception in 1970. "Every one of our students did an outstanding job and really represented Tri-County well."

"I had faith in them," said Mrs. Jones. "They approached the competition with a lot of confidence and couldn't have done any better."

The event is an excellent review for the National Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathology to be given beginning the first week of May. MLT (ASCP) is the most prestigious credential a medical laboratory technologist may place after his or her name.

"Instructor Polly Kay and I review material with the students two afternoons a week for two semesters in preparation for the National Registry," said Mrs. Jones. "This bowl is a good measuring stick to see if our review has helped."

Also, during the year students take 14 "fake" registries on computers to lower their anxiety level about taking exams by computer. "All of these measures really pay off," said Mrs. Jones.

Job placement for the graduating seniors is excellent, said Mrs. Jones. Several already have jobs lined up, and others' part-time work will turn into full time."

The Medical Laboratory Technology department is accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education Accreditation in cooperation with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
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