Mohawk Tribal Member Receives Academic Achievement Award
May 10, 2012
Will Attend Niagara University
Ron LaFrance III received the gold medal for the Pharmacology Knowledge Test on April 27, 2012. This award is presented by the organization, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), a national organization. HOSA was founded in 1976 and is a student organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in health care and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA also sponsors an annual National Leadership Conference in different cities across the United States. This year’s conference will be held in Orlando Florida.
LaFrance scored high on the written test and received the gold medal, a competitive annual New York State award. He received the medal in Syracuse during the awards ceremony, which immediately followed the actual competition. He is currently a senior at Massena Central High School.
He participated in the program through the Seaway Area Technology Center in Norwood, New York which serves seven different local school districts. As a high school senior, LaFrance also participates in the College Preparation Program as part of the Senior Project. Because pharmacology course work and preparation for the Pharmacology Knowledge Test are not part of the curriculum at the technology center, LaFrance studied on his own for this test. “This was above and beyond his normal class work,” remarked LeAnne Saxby, LaFrance’s teacher at the technology center. “Ron has a true desire to succeed, aspires to complete college and exhibits true leadership skills.”
LaFrance has been accepted to and plans on attending Niagara University in the fall of 2012. He received a $60,000 scholarship through the university’s Academic Exploration Program to help with the costs of his undergraduate studies. “My plan is to get a bachelor’s degree in pre-medical studies then to get a degree in pharmacology,” said LaFrance. He has yet to decide which university he will attend for his pharmacology degree.
As a high school student he applied to and was accepted into the National Honor Society. LaFrance played lacrosse in his junior and senior years and is a member of the Mohawk Club. He is the son of Monica Montoya and Ron LaFrance, Jr., of Akwesasne.
For more information contact David T. Staddon, Director of Public Information at 518-358-2272, ext. 286.