April 30, 2015
SVSU student wins national viral video contest for clinical lab science organization
Saginaw Valley State University student Cullen James recently won the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science’s (ASCLS) 2015 viral video contest.
James, a medical laboratory science major from Birch Run, submitted a 99-second video that promotes the benefits of being a member of the society.
The video, featuring James providing voiceover audio to images showing clinical lab science being performed in facilities at both SVSU and Covenant HealthCare, is available on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoYoIGoiFsM&feature=youtu.be
“I think this was a wonderful opportunity for me to use my hobbies to do something constructive, and I hope to be able to do so again in the future,” said James.
“I am very excited to represent my wonderful state and school with this video. I am so glad that people have not only watched it, but enjoyed it and want to share it with others. That kind of a reaction feels amazing and I am very thankful. I am grateful for the opportunity to share information about such an important profession that I love.”
In a letter informing James of his winning entry, ASCLS members praised the video.
“The originality of the music score and the visual effects were incredible,” the letter reads.
James, who is completing a laboratory internship at Saginaw's Covenant HealthCare, submitted the video as part of a project for his clinical experience at SVSU.
He will graduate from SVSU in May, when he hopes to begin a career as a lab technologist in an area medical facility. James said his experience with SVSU's medical laboratory science program prepared him for success in the industry.
“We have wonderful professors here who have fostered my academic growth,” he said. “We're the fifth class that's gone through this program, and it's improved every year. Before I came here, I saw SVSU as a place with great academic integrity that cared so much about the success of students, and (the medical laboratory science program) proved that to me.”
James will receive $200 toward a party to celebrate the contest win as well as free registration to the ASCLS annual conference in Atlanta in July. He plans to attend.