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Owens Sonography Student Austin McHenry Named National Student Director

Owens Community College student Austin McHenry was chosen to serve as Student Director for the Society of Vascular Ultrasound (SVU), a national organization of more than 4,200 vascular technologists, surgeons, cardiologists, lab directors, academics and students.

Owens student Austin McHenry was named Student Director for the Society for Vascular Ultrasound.

As Student Director, McHenry will represent the student voice on the SVU Board of Directors. He was encouraged to apply for the position by Owens sonography chair Julie Posey and adjunct instructor Abraham Ettaher, treasurer for SVU.

“I’m just thankful. I’m excited to learn something that’s pivotal towards my future and I’m going to go all in with it,” McHenry said.

Posey said she is proud that McHenry will represent Owens on the Board of Directors and also believes he will make an excellent Student Director.

“His dedication to the sonography profession, willingness to grow and potential as a leader make this a wonderful opportunity for him,” she said. “I hope this experience helps him build confidence, develop valuable leadership skills and create professional connections that will benefit him throughout his career.

“I’m excited to see how Austin grows through this opportunity and the positive impact he will have on both the profession and those around him.”

While he’s invested to be the student representative on the board, McHenry admitted one of his biggest goals is to use his new connections to further his knowledge base in the field.

“The number one thing I want out of this is I get to be in a room with the brightest minds in my field, so I get to learn from people who are super passionate,” McHenry said. “I get to pick up on learning skills, pick up on skills for the job.”

McHenry chose to major in Vascular Sonography because it combined two of his interests, math and technology, while giving him a chance to help people. He didn’t realize how passionate he would become about the profession.

McHenry, of Wauseon, called himself a “nerd,” interested in computers and business. After graduating from high school, he worked a couple of jobs but knew he couldn’t do either for the rest of his life. He decided to see what Owens offered and found that Vascular Sonography checked all of his boxes.

“I wanted to make a difference early, start my life sooner, and Owens gives me that opportunity,” McHenry said. “I told myself I’d never be in the medical field, but I’m loving it. The coursework is great, the teachers are helpful. It’s not as scary as I initially thought.”

McHenry called the program at Owens accelerated and demanding. At first, he didn’t feel adequate enough to be in the program, but it was the one thing he wasn’t able to give up or drop.

“Owens demands a lot out of you, and I think that makes you more responsible. This is what you want to do for the rest of your life, so I’d hope you put a little bit of effort into it,” McHenry said.

Now, he’s risen to a national student leadership position and will graduate in Spring 2027, all his hard work and sacrifices paying off as he begins his term on the SVU board.

Find more information on the Vascular Sonography program at owens.edu.