Kidist Negus

After graduating high school I took on a new role at Bergan Mercy as the coordinator for the Transition Program in which teens and young adults with developmental disabilities can get job experience by volunteering in different locations in the hospital. In order to best support these volunteers, I created multimodal instruction sheets that were inclusive to differing ability levels including videos, images, and written.I also compiled all necessary information onto an easily accessible website that their teachers can refer to.

I received my CNA through the Health Academy and I work in the Clarkson Tower on the Solid Organ Transplant Unit. I take vital signs every 4 hours taking note of any significant values, changes and reporting them to the nurse. I also help the patients with activities of daily living such as bathing and washing their hair to reduce the risk of infection as well as feed them. I take patients on walks to not only maintain their physical health, but to give some semblance of a normal life during a prolonged hospital stay

As an NHS member I have volunteered in various projects the organization has been asked to help with within our district or within our community, in addition to the volunteer work I do at Bergan Mercy Hospital and the American Red Cross.

As a Student Ambassador for Upward Bound I assisted with recruitment of new members at my high school’s freshman activity fair. As a member, I have grown my technology competency skills and college preparedness through various college tours and the program’s Summer Academy I attended in July 2023.

I have volunteered at the front desk guiding visitors to their loved ones as well as serving as the link between the families and the Periop team in the procedure center. In volunteering on the floors, I pass fresh water to patients who do not have NPO orders and stock the floors. Since starting I have been promoted to becoming a teen lead on my Tuesday volunteer shift, serving as a resource for other teens.

I am a HOSA officer at my school's chapter and I am responsible for organizing the blood drive. Initially I worked in student recruitment and then with the digital interface of the Red Cross to manage and schedule donors within our school and community. Additionally, we have summer blood drives which I worked to promote as well as recruit past and eligible donors.

I have been a member of Papio PROUD (Promoting Respect Opportunity Unity and Diversity) since 2020, and have been in a leadership position since my junior year. As the President of Multicultural Affairs I paved the way for my high school’s first annual Multicultural Fair with students from Papillion La Vista Senior High School, Papillion La Vista South High School, Ralston High School, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In 2023, I also led the effort to set up a school ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos to honor our loved ones who have passed, as well as to honor Mexican culture and the heritage of our students.

Our second multicultural fair featured a fashion show, booths, food, more performances and was covered on the Channel 6 news and in the Sarpy County Times.