Eagle Point High School senior Elisha Rasor assists dentist Dave Quinn working on veteran Gary Hammock of Klamath Falls at the veterans’ clinic. (Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli)

WHITE CITY — Elisha Rasor can hardly wait to graduate from Eagle Point High School on Friday so she can enter the working world.

She won't have long to wait.

The first Monday following graduation she launches her dental career as a full-time dental assistant at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics SORCC in White City.

"I'm very excited about coming to work here," she said, adding, "And I know I'm very lucky to have this opportunity."

She is one of 30 Eagle Point High School students who participated in the occupational internship program this school year at the SORCC. The unique program began in 1984 as an alternative school project but has evolved into one that gives students an opportunity to gain career experience by volunteering at the SORCC.

"The students come out here because they want to do either community service or they want the work experience to explore a variety of things," explained Judy Rosenzweig, the teacher who heads the program. "Others have a specific career field in mind and want to gain a specific experience."

In addition to the experience, the students receive elective credits for the volunteer work, added Rosenzweig, a 1979 graduate of Medford Senior High School who has a master's degree in teaching from Southern Oregon University.

"Some of these internships offer expanded opportunities that go beyond the high school classroom into a college setting where they can get additional training," she said, adding, "The focus isn't just on academics, but a good deal of the students out here are academic high achievers."

In fact, program participant Kathleen Evangelista, a salutatorian in the 2006 Eagle Point High School class with a 3.98 GPA, has earned a scholarship to attend Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls where she will study radiology.

For the past school year, Evangelista, the daughter of Oscar and Paula Evangelista of White City, has been a volunteer in the SORCC's radiology department.

"I knew I wanted to go into the medical field but I wasn't into needles and poking people," said Kathleen Evangelista, noting she has family members who are nurses.

"Imaging was suggested to me," she added. "I liked it."

The senior impressed Shelley Lamphere, the department's lead technologist

"Kathleen is awesome," Lamphere said . "She's very dependable and intelligent. She did what we asked her to without complaint. She is going to go far in life."

Evangelista and Rasor, believed to be the first student hired by the VA directly out of the program, reflects the program's success.

"This is a partnership with the VA, the high school and Rogue Community College," said Tom Marshall, voluntary services intern at the SORCC. "The students come out and learn an occupation they are interested in. We all benefit."

Students like Rasor, who is currently taking classes at RCC in addition to going to high school, often take advantage of related RCC classes after discovering their career goals, Rosenzweig said.

She also noted that the students have volunteered more than $61,000 worth of time at the SORCC this school year.

Noting he has 30 students already interested in participating in the program next fall, Marshall, a retired Air Force recruiter, said he interviews each would-be student participant as he would a job applicant.

"They have to have a resume," he said. "It's a very rigorous interview process. We want to make sure it's a right fit."

Rasor, the daughter of Phil and Joni Rasor of Eagle Point, knew as a youngster that dentistry was the right fit.

"I've been interested in dental work since I was about 5," she said. "My dentist knew I had an interest and encouraged me to pursue it. When I heard about the program here I put in my resume."

That was nearly two years ago, observed Dr. Seba Kirkpatrick, chief of dental services at the facility.

"She has been an exceptional asset for us," he said. "We've had quite a few student volunteers and some really exceptional ones. But this is the first time we've had an opportunity to offer somebody a position. I consider this one of my primary achievements in my 10-year career here."

As for Rasor, she looks forward to working with veterans.

"They are from a different time than us," Rasor said. "They come from a time when guys held the door open for girls."

Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or at pfattig@mailtribune.com