INA, Ill. (April 7, 2016) - Ethan Pullum of Carterville has been named the Rend Lake College Foundation Outstanding Student for the month of March.
The sophomore is currently seeking an Associate Degree in Science from RLC to go into physical therapy. He will attend either Southern Illinois University Carbondale or Edwardsville after he graduates next month. Part of Pullum’s drive to work in the physical therapy or science fields stems from his younger sister, 10-year-old Roxy who is battling cancer for the third time.
“She’s in physical therapy now. I have a lot of experience working with it and her. It’s something that is near and dear to my heart,†said Pullum. He added his future is still up in the air as he hasn’t made an official decision about his major. His goal will be to do medicinal research if he decides to go the science route, or to work with children, like his sister, in physical therapy.
Carrie Ragan, Associate Professor Biology and Anatomy & Physiology, nominated Pullum because of the talent and compassion he shows in her College Biology II class.
“Ethan is the whole package in a student. He’s very patient, intelligent, and a great student,†said Ragan. “I learned from another instructor about his sister, and I know he is responsible for a lot of the care she receives, and because of this experience, he wants to work in either the treatment or research side of medicine.â€
Ragan also mentioned Pullum’s fellow classmate, an individual with autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), “Ethan paired up with him and he’s been very patient. Really, he’s gone the extra mile when it comes to helping this student, especially in the lab component, which is a very large part of the course.â€
Outside of RLC, Pullum is an experienced track runner who takes on the mile and is a member of Christian Life Center in Herrin.
