A 2020 Coeur d'Alene High School grad with a knack for golf is already making her mark in the medical world.

Martina Hicks, 18, earned the prestigious honor of being named the Idaho Hospital Association's Junior Volunteer of the Year.

"Some people spend a lifetime volunteering and supporting their community hospitals, and some start at a young age, like Martina Hicks," Gov. Brad Little said during the IHA Junior Volunteer Award presentation Sept. 23, which was recorded and can be viewed at https://bit.ly/30ZmXtH on YouTube.

Martina began volunteering at Kootenai Health in 2018. She gathered medical records, worked in the gift shop, helped wherever she was needed in different departments and interviewed and trained incoming volunteers.

Although she is away at McKendree University in Illinois on a golf scholarship, she tuned in remotely for the presentation. Hicks earned the award through a nomination by her peers.

"I was extremely happy and grateful for this award," Hicks said. "To be recognized by the governor was truly an honor. I wish I could have been there in person to receive the award, but I am so grateful that the governor knows my name and for the opportunity to even be on a conference call for this."

The governor was so impressed with Hicks, he encouraged IHA President and CEOc Brian Whitlock to increase the $1,000 scholarship prize that accompanies the award. Whitlock doubled it.

"It's young people like Martina that make Idaho's future so bright," Little said.

Hicks has volunteered hundreds of hours in her short time at Kootenai Health and really loves working with and learning from those around her. In an essay, she wrote about the light that employees, fellow volunteers, patients and their families bring to her life.

"I wanted to make a change somewhere and Kootenai Health was a perfect opportunity to do that, while also being able to browse future career choices," she said. "I enjoyed the stories and the interactions with the patients and guests at the hospital. Also working with fellow older volunteers, I learned a lot of life lessons and made new friends."

Hicks is presently on a golf scholarship at McKendree and studying biology on a pre-med track.

She would like to attend medical school when she graduates, with a plan of becoming a dermatologist. In her limited free time, she enjoys golfing and hanging out with family and friends.

She said if she could share some words of advice for young people on the fence about volunteering or getting involved in their community, she would tell them to go for it.

"I would say to follow their dreams and push to get to the right steps to make those dreams happen," Hicks said. "If there is something you want to achieve, then it just takes hard work to get there, and trust me, it will pay off."

She expressed her gratitude to Kootenai Health and those she worked closely with.

"The staff at Kootenai was like a family to me and that is the reason that I was able to put so much of my time and effort into the hospital," she said.

And Kootenai Health is pretty fond of her, too.

"Martina was a member of our student volunteer board and held several positions during her time volunteering for Kootenai Health," volunteer services manager Renee Langue said. "As one of our student leaders, she helped support our program by attending outreach events, assisting with leading our student volunteer orientation and inspiring new student volunteers by sharing her experiences.

"She positively impacted our visitors, staff and coworkers," Langue said. "She was wonderful to work with and we wish her all the best as she pursues her education and future career in health care.”

Since 1933, IHA has been provided voice, value and visibility for Idaho’s community hospitals. A statewide nonprofit association, IHA brings hospital and health care leaders together in pursuit of quality health care across Idaho.

Info: www.teamiha.org