Hillcrest High animal lover wins Distinguished Student Award

MaKenna Adamson has loved animals her whole life, so it’s no wonder she decided to do her senior project with animals.

“My senior project I decided to do here working with the animals and the hyperbaric treatment,” Adamson said.

Idaho is one of just a few places in the entire nation that has a hyperbaric chamber for small animals. Adamson has volunteered at the Idaho Falls Veterinary Emergency Clinic and written a paper on how medical advances like the chamber have helped animals.

“We put the animals in the chamber and raise the oxygen level and the pressure level and this helps heal wounds and helps get rid of diseases in the body,” Adamson said.

Adamson works with hyperbaric medicine expert Tory Walker. She’s amazed at the results she’s seen in the animals they’ve worked with.

“I’ve seen video clips of dogs that couldn’t even walk before, and I come in their fifth or sixth treatment and they seem normal as ever — walking around,” Adamson said.

Adamson is also passionate about sports. She’s been on the golf and volleyball teams all four years of high school.

“I’ve made a lot of friends and I think it’s taught me a lot about leadership,” Adamson said. “I was the captain of the volleyball team so I had to really step in there and help my team out.”

With a 3.9 GPA Adamson is smart too. But her teachers say what makes her special is her compassionate nature.

“I just want to do something where I can help, whether it’s people or animals — I just want to make a difference,” Adamson said.