Volunteer Leadership Council

In 2020, Huntington Hospital’s Volunteer Leadership Council awarded college scholarships to student volunteers Alicia Cerda and Kristiana Wong, in recognition of their outstanding service.

Huntington Hospital’s Volunteer Leadership Council is comprised of current and immediate past presidents of the hospital’s support groups. The council coordinates events and shares other important information among our guilds and other fundraising groups. Each year, the council awards scholarships to one or two graduating high school seniors who have volunteered a minimum of 40 hours at the hospital and who plan to pursue a career in a healthcarerelated field. Alicia Cerda spent more than 400 hours volunteering here, beginning in 10th grade and continuing through her graduation from South Pasadena High School. She directed patients and visitors at the information desk in our main lobby, as well as helped out in our mother baby unit. She also helped give tours of the hospital for expectant parents.

Now a student at American Career College, Alicia is studying to be a licensed vocational nurse. Ultimately, she would like to become a nurse practitioner. “I learned a lot about my life goals from volunteering at Huntington Hospital,” says Alicia. “My experience helped me realize that being in the medical field is what I’m most passionate about.”

Kristiana Wong, also a graduate of South Pasadena High School, began volunteering here during the summer before her junior year in high school. She logged more than 210 volunteer hours at the hospital assisting staff in our oncology unit (6 West) and working at the information desks in our main lobby and Wingate building.

“Volunteering at the hospital gave me insight into what a loving healthcare environment looks like,” Kristiana says. “I learned about the satisfaction that comes from helping others who are in a great deal of pain. The experience sparked a passion in me that made me want to pursue a career in the medical field.”

Kristiana is now attending the University of California, San Diego, majoring in molecular and cell biology. She hopes to pursue either a medical or a doctoral degree in the future, so that she can conduct cancer research.