Surgical technology students at Edgecombe Community College recently brought home second prize in a statewide Scrub Bowl competition.

Scrub Bowl is a college-level quizbowl sponsored by the N.C. Alliance of Surgical Technology Educators.

Graduates of all accredited surgical technology programs in North Carolina are required to take the national certification exam.

According to Linda Harrison, program director of surgical technology at Edgecombe, Scrub Bowl is designed to help prepare students for the exam.

Ten community college teams participated in the tournament held July 14 at Guilford Technical Community College. The double elimination format ensured that every team played at least twice.

“We played every team, and we played Sandhills Community College, the ultimate winner, three times,” said Harrison, who serves as president of the N.C. Alliance of Surgical Technology Educators.

All seven students in Edgecombe Community College’s program traveled to Greensboro for Scrub Bowl.

“It was absolutely wonderful. I was doing a happy dance,” Harrison said. “I am so proud of our students.”

The college competed against much larger surgical technology programs, including Guilford Technical Community College with 30 students and Fayetteville Tech with 25. Other community colleges in the competition were Blue Ridge, Catawba Valley, Cleveland, Lenoir, Rockingham, South Piedmont and Wake Tech.

“This was our first year in North Carolina for Scrub Bowl,” Harrison said.

Twenty-three of the 58 community colleges in North Carolina have surgical technology programs. An additional three private programs were eligible to compete. Harrison said next year’s goal is to have more teams in the competition.

Jolane Buss, an instructor in South Carolina and president of the SC State Assembly – Association of Surgical Technologists, moderated the competition. South Carolina has held Scrub Bowl for several years.