By Tom Kowalski, EBS 2
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in October (10th), about two dozen students from various semesters came out to the UMHS campus to take part in the Med Olympics. This semester, the Student Government Association (SGA) modified the events to be friendly to both the athletes and non-athletes of the school. The activities were a basketball game, dodgeball, balloon toss and a combination 4x1 relay race. The day of the event, teams were chosen by two captains, rather than having semester versus semester.
In the opening event, both basketball teams battled extremely hard during each possession with the sun beaming down, sweat droplet after sweat droplet drenching the court. The game was up to 16 points, each basket worth either one or to points. Midway through the game, the referee insisted on a much needed water-break timeout for the players which was a lifesaver. Eventually as the game progressed, a contested layup was the final basket to give Benjamin’s team the victory.
RELAY RACE: Racheal Daniels & Marius. Photo: Laecio Lacerda, EBS 3
The next event was a physical and trash-talking-filled game of dodgeball. Players weaved back and forth to avoid the balls thrown like missiles. The teams had so much fun that we played three games total. The balloon toss allowed players to cool off and get their adrenaline back under control. Following the end of the balloon toss, students used the extra balloons to have a good ol’ water balloon fight. Students ran up and down the hill on campus chasing each other. Even if you got hit, the cold water felt heavenly as we were all still sweaty from previous events.
BALLOON TOSS: At the end of this event, UMHS students used extra balloons to have a water balloon fight. Photo: Laecio Lacerda, EBS 3
The day was capped off with the four-person relay race on the hill. The first leg was one person from each team spinning 10 times around a bat before running about 10 yards down the hill. A player, not to be named, took quite a tumble during this run. Then, as each player got to their teammate, they had to wheel barrel walk them back to the start. For the third leg, an egg on a spoon was carried followed by a flat out sprint. Both teams had a lot of fun with this event as they cheered their teammates on enthusiastically.
Overall, Med School Olympics was a success because it brought students together and allowed them to take their mind off school for a perfect-weather afternoon. We recognize SGA’s President, Ms. Tasia Bradley, for organizing the event.
FUN IN THE SUN: Med Olympics brought UMHS students together & allowed them to take their mind off school to enjoy the St. Kitts weather for an afternoon. Photo: Laecio Lacerda, EBS 3
(Top photo) UMHS MED OLYMPICS: Front row (from left): Greg Ashurov, Benjamin Pickard, Claude Derby, Chloe Balanda, Christina Varela, Nitha Thomas, Divya Krishnan, Janie Theriot, Tasia Bradley, Sarah Dobrosielski, David Wurbel, Laecio Lacerda. Second row (from left): Kwaku Sarpong, Marius Alexander, Tom Kowalski, Darron Lewis, Keyur Kurani & friend. Photo: Laecio Lacerda, EBS 3
About UMHS:
Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciencesfocuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, “personalized medical education,” and it’s what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada. UMHS is challenging everything you thought you knew about Caribbean medical schools.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
