Three local Lions service organizations collaborated to donate a scooter valued at $1800 to Pine Technical College. The generous Rock Creek Lions, Pine City Lions, and Pine Area Lions worked together to raise funds and purchase the electric scooter now used by PTC student Steven Hintz.
"I'm so grateful to the Lions; it was generous of them to come together to give such a gift as this to the college," Hintz says. "And, now that PTC has this scooter on hand, when my need for the scooter has been met, it will the there for other PTC students or staff in need," Hintz adds.
It is not by accident that Hintz is able to take advantage of the scooter. Hintz suffers from a medical condition that resulted in the amputation of all his toes on one foot and ulcers on the other, and without the aid of the scooter, Hintz may not be attending classes and working toward his practical nursing diploma. Hintz has been advised by his physicians to walk on his feet as little as possible for several months; however, until the Lions donated the scooter and he was able to use it, he was attending classes and walking on the balls of his feet.
"He is so dedicated to learning and his career plan that he was risking his health," explains Gloria Baker, PTC's Director of Disability Services. "I met with Hintz on a few occasions, but he took the initiative to ask a number of statewide companies and organizations if there was a scooter on hand to simply borrow, rent or lease. Just a week later, he informed me of the Lions' generosity and that they collaboratively purchased the scooter as a donation to the college," Baker explains.
The scooter is a gift to PTC, and Hintz is its sole user. After Hintz no longer needs the scooter or upon his graduation, the scooter will be made available to another student who has a need for it.
"He is so upbeat and positive, and he's a terrific student," Baker says. "Now, with the scooter, if it's possible, he's even more excited about his classes and learning!"
Inspired by his own medical condition, Hintz began his coursework in the nursing program in Aug. 2010 and is tentatively planning on a May, 2012 graduation.
Photo at top: Steve Hintz browses medical books in the PTC Learning Resource and Technology Center.
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