Collin College is not only home to the seven-time Texas State Sputum Bowl Champions, they’re also home to the 2017 National Sputum Bowl Champions. Team members and their instructors Araceli Solis, BS, RRT, RCP, and Julie Boganwright, M.Ed., RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, visited the AARC to share their tips for competition success. Solis is the program director and Boganwright is the clinical coordinator for the Collin College respiratory care program.
Winning Tips
Start Early – Collin College starts recruiting students during orientation. According to the students, this is a good way to get to know their fellow students and potential team members. The instructors also make participation convenient for the students by scheduling practice after lab.
Build a Question Bank – Solis and Boganwright have worked hard over the years building a question bank for students to use in their studies and practice. This bank is student-created. Students were tasked with bringing questions to the team, which then filled their question bank.
Trust – “Trust each other,” “know your teammates,” and “choose your teammates wisely” were quickly interjected by the students as tips for competition. This trust also applies to relying on the support and expertise of your instructors, as well as having your own self-confidence in the material.
Professional Benefits
According to Kebron Isayas, recent Collin College grad and member of the National Champion Team, being part of the Sputum Bowl team helped her land her externship.
“It shows you’re dedicated to getting educated and willing to work hard,” Isayas said.
For fellow graduate and team member Patrick Forsythe, being part of the team helped enhance his networking opportunities. It also helped with his classwork since he would often already have material memorized.
Prepared for Success
“It teaches you responsibility, dedication, and commitment,” Forsythe said. “You have to actually commit and put time into the program.”
The instructors concurred with Forsythe, explaining that being part of the team teaches time management skills, as well as on-the-spot thinking. These skills and experiences are put to use during board exams.
The Best Part
“Winning,” said Jennifer Moreles, when asked what the best part of being on the team has been. “It was surreal–it was the last game and we were so proud of each other.”
For Isayas, building relationships over time has been the best part of her Sputum Bowl experience. Her teammates Cesar Romero and Forsythe echoed her comment as they reflected on the chemistry that was built among the team and how they learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“The Sputum Bowl experience was the highlight of the respiratory therapy school program,” Isayas said. “I encourage students to at least try it out and see if you like it.”
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Heather Willden is the Director of Governance and Strategic Initiatives for the AARC where she works with state affiliates as the HOD liaison. She also manages DEI efforts and strategic initiatives. Connect with her about these topics by email, AARConnect or LinkedIn. When she's not working, you can find her podcasting with her husband, exploring new hiking trails, photographing, and spending time with her family.
