She credited her success to a partnership between Olney East and St. Christopher's.
On Monday, Young was one of 14 seniors honored at the hospital.
Besides receiving certificates of completion, many students were given scholarships of $500 to $1,500 by benefactors Kal and Lucille Rudman, who have donated $357,000 to fund it. Kal Rudman - a publisher of music trade magazines, local radio legend, and philanthropist - has been a supporter of Health Tech almost since its inception.
Begun in 1994, Health Tech has helped expose 229 inner- city students to health careers. It draws from Olney East and puts students in direct contact with working doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators.
During the school year, seniors work a full eight-hour day on Fridays and up to eight additional hours through the week. Many work at the hospital over the summer.
Though competitive, Health Tech is not designed for gifted students.
"We actually go for the average student we know, given the opportunity, can excel," said program director Barbara Liccio. "There are so many programs for bright students. The average student sometimes gets lost."
Applicants must have at least a C average, have an 85 percent attendance record, and pass a drug screening and a criminal check. Once accepted, they become full employees of the hospital.
"We want them to be professional," Liccio said.
The program gets results. Liccio said 98 percent of the participating students have completed the program and 96 percent have been accepted to college.
Martin Nock, chief executive officer of Communities in Schools, a Philadelphia nonprofit dedicated to keeping students from dropping out, considers Health Tech a role model for other schools and hospitals.
