While in nursing school, Becky Riley decided she wanted to be a school nurse, working with young and mostly healthy people.

When she reached her goal, she quickly found that a big part of her role was counseling those young people. Talking to them. Tending to their hearts as much as their wounds and illnesses.

She is one of the primary intervention resources for students with problems, whether that means referring the student to child protective services, school counselors or law enforcement; following up on visits to medical professionals; or intervening with parents.

During a routine screening, for example, Riley spotted a potential problem with a young man who planned to sign up for athletics. She retested him several times in the next few days and remained concerned.

When a physician gave the young man athletic clearance anyway, Riley called his mother and discussed the matter.

Finally, the student was diagnosed with a problem that required surgery. During the procedure, an additional medical problem was identified. The boy's grateful parents went before the school board to thank Riley publicly.

She wasn't necessarily trained to be that kind of advocate for the young people she serves, Riley said. Nurturing is just natural for nurses.

"As long as there is a willing partner, either a doctor or a parent, then I will move forward for a patient. I won't let go if I feel strongly that something is wrong. It is just case by case."

One of her biggest challenges is simply keeping young people in class. She usually succeeds because she is "more persistent than they are."

Riley stays in touch with many of her former students, yet is happy when they "fly the nest" because she knows there are more students who will need her.

On her off time, Riley enjoys almost anything that involves working with her hands, from remodeling her home to working on her car or gardening. She has no children of her own, just the hundreds she cares for at Oakmont High School.

"I don't have any grandiose plans. I like to be there-available to the staff and kids all day long. I usually don't even take a lunch because that's when they have a tendency to need me. The ninth-graders especially need tender loving care. It helps just to have someone notice them and pay attention to them."