HFC teams take top two spots in state-wide Sputum Bowl

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The winning team, The Mast Cell Stabilizers!
The Mast Cell Stabilizers won first place at the MSRC Sputum Bowl and proudly show off their awards. From L-R: HFC students Kyle Welker, Rebecca Newsome, Mona Alhajj, and Nada Mechlih (team captain).

Students in the HFC Respiratory Therapist Program recently took the top two spots at the Michigan Society for Respiratory Care Sputum Bowl 2026 in Kalamazoo.

The Sputum Bowl is a two-day, state-wide quiz bowl competition for respiratory therapy students. There were two teams from HFC, and both teams defeated the 17 other competitors.

The two HFC teams went to the semifinals undefeated, and then competed against each other in the finals. The winning team from HFC was the Mast Cell Stabilizers, whose members included:

  • Nada Mechlih (team captain)
  • Rebecca Newsome
  • Kyle Welker
  • Mona Alhajj

The second-place team from HFC was the Notorious A.B.G.s, whose members included:

  • Tyler Burrell (team captain)
  • Xavier Hinton
  • Cameron Gonzales
  • Kamille Scarbrough

The Mast Cell Stabilizers will go to the American Association for Respiratory Care National Sputum Bowl November 14-17 in New Orleans, LA. The MSRC will sponsor their trip to the National Sputum Bowl.

“This is a proud moment for HFC!” said HFC Respiratory Therapist Program Director Kim Najarian. “Both (HFC Director of Clinical Education of the Respiratory Therapist Program) Teena Culhane and I are so proud of both teams from HFC. They represented the College well and proved themselves against some pretty stiff competition from other universities.”

Front row (from L-R): Kamille Scarbrough, Cameron Gonzales, HFC Director of Clinical Education of the Respiratory Therapist Program Teena Culhane. Back row (from L-R): HFC Respiratory Therapist Program Director Kim Najarian, Xavier Hinton, Tyler Burrell (team captain).
Front row (from L-R): Kamille Scarbrough, Cameron Gonzales, HFC Director of Clinical Education of the Respiratory Therapist Program Teena Culhane. Back row (from L-R): HFC Respiratory Therapist Program Director Kim Najarian, Xavier Hinton, Tyler Burrell (team captain).