Niwot High School Senior Spotlight: Tyler Rooks

The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella.

Tyler Rooks, a senior at Niwot High School, has been interested in becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT) since he was seven years old. From the very start, Rooks knew he had a passion for helping people.

The Career Elevation and Technology Center of the St. Vrain Valley School District offers an Emergency Medical Technician course to high school students across the district to prepare them to provide pre-hospital assessment and care for patients who have various medical conditions or traumatic injuries.

Through this course, students are trained in Universal Precautions with Personal Protective Equipment and the American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR and AED Training for Healthcare Professionals.

With prerequisite courses in Medical Foundations, Medical Terminology, and Anatomy and Physiology, the course is rigorous, and only those who are passionate and plan to pursue a career in the medical field are accepted. By the end of the course, most students become certified through the National Registry Certification Test.

Rooks' proudest high school achievement was being accepted into the CETC's challenging EMT program.

Rooks said, "I have worked super hard over the past three years I've been at Niwot and at the CETC to get accepted into the EMT program. Even before high school I was extremely interested in becoming an EMT and eventually a paramedic. At age seven, I was flipping through all the EMT text books I could get my hands on, talking to and learning from paramedics along with watching all the medical shows I could."

In addition to his studies, Rooks enjoys calming hobbies such as photography and drawing. He said he also enjoys working with the art medium of clay. In his free time, he volunteers at Longmont United Hospital.

After high school, Rooks hopes to attend Aims Community College in Greeley to gain a Paramedic Associate of Applied Science Degree.

Rooks stated, "I have been extremely dedicated, studying constantly so I can get to my goal of being a great provider. Overall, I wouldn't be here without the CETC, their classes, and the support from their teachers."