About Somto Okoye

Somto Okoye

Mr. Okoye has participated in the Columbia VA Health Care System for two years and has volunteered a total of 252 hours, including 186 hours for 2022.

Somto was selected as one of only 11 students to participate in the ground-breaking high school Research Program for the VA. The program was designed to encourage students to see the value and importance in considering a career in the medical sciences and to give them direct experience, knowledge and mentoring as they choose individual career paths.

As a Research student, Somto participated in special lectures, site visits, and observations in addition to serving as a volunteer in the Acute Gastroenterology clinic at the Dorn Medical Center.

As a volunteer, Somto was responsible for transporting patients to/from appointments via wheelchair, wiping down reusable medical equipment (wheelchairs, beds, making beds), delivery/transport of documents between clinics. In the clinic, the Mr. Okoye assisted with transporting patients via wheelchair within the facility, room turnover between clinic appointments, and wiping down reusable equipment.

Somto was also afforded the opportunity to view procedures and had the opportunity to witness how the flow works in healthcare settings and speak to various entities about their work experience as a healthcare provider.

Mr. Okoye comes from a family of selfless medical healthcare workers as his mother is a physician at the VA. Somto understood how his strong beliefs and teachings in servant leadership could help Veterans at the Columbia VA.

His commitment to his assigned responsibilities, ability to acquire new skills and improve through practice was evident. Somto was always ready to volunteer to help the staff with any task from the mundane to the challenging. He learned the importance of completing his responsibilities and that they tied into the success of ensuring the mission, vision and goals of the organization to enhance the services Veterans received.

Mr. Okoye took his assigned duties and responsibilities seriously and he went the extra mile to make sure the work was the best that it can be. He recognized that the quality of his work was also a representation of character. He took personal accountability to make a personal choice to rise above barriers and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results of his responsibilities. Somto demonstrated quiet leadership by frequently being the last student to leave after a group session because he would - without being asked - stay behind to clean up and arrange the room after meetings. His spirit of taking on responsibility as he perceived a need clearly sets him apart from his peers.

For the local SharkTank competition Somto submitted , The “Lend an Ear” Hotline: targeting Veteran Homelessness and Reducing Veteran Suicide. The project focused on aging Veterans feeling increasingly isolated and lonely, possibly leading to depression resulting in suicide. This need increased during COVID. Somto sought to increase social connectedness and thus help reduce depression in Veterans participating in the program. His goal was to address the depression before it reached a critical point.

Mr. Okoye served on the 2022 Summer Student Leadership Council and was recognized as an “Unsung Hero” for his personal project of collecting and distributing needed items to local Veterans.

At his school, Cardinal Newman, Somto serves as the president of the National Honor Society, president of Beta Club, and vice president of Youth in Government. He is also the director of events for the Black Student Union at his school. Somto has also completed over 550 hours of service in the past three years, 252 of those hours with the VA. Somto is also defensive end and punter for the Cardinal Newman Varsity Football team, as well as a player for the Cardinal Newman Varsity Soccer team.

In His Own Words:

“I chose to volunteer at the VA because my father is a Veteran having served in the US Army for 24 years. I know of his fellow service men who were injured and suffering from PTSD and I wanted to support and offer help in any way to our Veterans and to help make them more comfortable.

After my first volunteer experience at the VA medical center, I became even more convinced that I want to pursue a career in the medical profession. The entire experience was amazing. I shadowed some surgeons and observed robotic surgeries, gastrointestinal procedures. I enjoyed talking with Veterans, hearing their stories of hard work, faith, perseverance and survivorship.

I now have a better understanding of the problems affecting some of our Veterans like homelessness, hunger, mental health issues. I’m hoping to continue to volunteer to provide more support and as I get more education, I hope to work in the VA Health system to make a positive impact in the lives of our Veterans.”

Below is a list of Awards Mr. Okoye has received:

2022 West Point Leadership Award
2022 Presbyterian College Fellows Award
2022 Highpoint College Junior Scholars Award
2022 Outstanding Achievement in AP Language and Composition
2022 Outstanding Achievement in Spanish IV
2021 Outstanding Achievement in Spanish III
2021-2022 Cardinal Newman Honors x6 (5.0 GPA)
2021-2022 Bishop’s Honor Roll x6 (4.5 GPA+)
2021-2022 Bronze Presidential Service Award
2022 VA Healthcare System Unsung Hero Award
2021-2022SCISA 3A Soccer State Champions