Fifty-eight eighth-grade students from 23 schools across Nebraska attended
UNMC’s eighth annual Health/Science Meet June 15-17 for a three-day, educational
and entertaining experience. The meets goal is to inspire Nebraska eighth-graders,
especially those from rural communities, to pursue careers in health care.
The students qualified for the meet by submitting science projects in
regional science competitions held in Scottsbluff, North Platte, Hastings,
Lincoln and Omaha.
The expense-paid meet exposes students to the health professions, medical
research and patient care. Events include hands-on activities, speakers
presenting information about a variety of health science disciplines and
touring UNMC. Other activities included attending an entertaining science
presentation, Chemistry and Physics on Wheels, a visit to a planetarium,
fun activities at Mahoney State Park, as well as a melodrama and the Health/Science
Bowl, a team competition held in a TV game show style.
UNMC, an academic health science center, is recognized nationally and
internationally for its bone marrow and liver transplant programs, rural
health care initiatives, biotechnology, geriatrics and cancer research
and treatment. UNMC promotes programs which enable Nebraska to “grow its
own” health care professionals. More than half of Nebraska physicians,
pharmacists, dental professionals, nurses and other health professionals
have graduated from UNMC.
Students in eighth-grade next year interested in applying to attend
the year 2001 Health/Science Meet should contact their science teacher,
school counselor or principal in the fall. Information and applications
for next year’s event will be sent to school officials during November.
The students who participated in the 2000 Health/Science Meet, their
schools and their hometowns are listed below.
SCHOOL
STUDENT
HOMETOWN
AQUINAS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Matt Kratochvil
Ulysses
Elizabeth Prigge
Ulysses
BLUE HILL COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Kristina Hubl
Blue Hill
Josh Krueger
Blue Hill
Elysabeth Rehtus
Guide Rock
BLUFFS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Lisa Aschenbrenner
Scottsbluff
Carling Baker
Scottsbluff
Logan Cannon
Scottsbluff
Taylor Hilzer
Scottsbluff
BROKEN BOW MIDDLE SCHOOL
Jonathan Miller
Broken Bow
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Rachel Goertz
Bayard
EUSTIS-FARNAM JUNIOR HIGH
HaLea Messersmith
Farnam
FORT CALHOUN
Sarah Seidman
Ft. Calhoun
Sarah Tinkham
Ft. Calhoun
GRANT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Lucas Arias
Grant
Stacia Erlewine
Ogallala
Jyl Hagan
Grant
Hesston Hamm
Imperial
John Tines
Venango
HAIG SCHOOL
Justin Brown
Scottsbluff
Rachael Skiles
Scottsbluff
HYANNIS HIGH SCHOOL
Zach Brown
Whitman
LINCOLN LUTHERAN
Matthew Bliemeister
Lincoln
Jessica Codr
Lincoln
Gina Moslander
Lincoln
David Voorman
Lincoln
MAXWELL PUBLIC SCHOOL
Mitchell Josten
North Platte
Saige Vohs
Maxwell
NELIGH-OAKDALE SCHOOLS
Jessica Helgren
Neligh
Kendra Meyer
Neligh
OMAHA
Russell Middle School
Robert Adams
Omaha
Janet Baack
Omaha
PLEASANTON SCHOOLS
Megan Rolfsmeyer
Pleasanton
POTTER-DIX MIDDLE SCHOOL
Alisha Hilpert
Potter
Breanne Mueller
Potter
Tim Williams
Potter
SOUTH PLATTE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mike Frates
Brule
Cassie Hill
Big Springs
Lindsey Struckman
Brule
ST. PATRICKS HIGH SCHOOL
Cyndi Boerner
North Platte
Sunny Brinker
North Platte
Barrett Brown
North Platte
John Chessmore
North Platte
Dan Dobesh
North Platte
Allison Greenwood
North Platte
Sara Richards
North Platte
Megan Schwartz
North Platte
Tom Stehno
North Platte
Melissa White
North Platte
THEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL
Jessica Assid
Thedford
Riley Dali
Stapleton
Dustin Dickman
Thedford
Jessica Matulka
Brownlee
VALENTINE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Jessica Battershaw
Valentine
Chelsey Moody
Ainsworth
WALNUT MIDDLE SCHOOL
Jenna Leeper
Grand Island
WESTRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL
David Munoz
Grand Island
WOOD RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
Emmanuel Soto
Wood River
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment, solid organ transplantation and arthritis.
During the past year, nearly $31 million in research grants and contracts
were awarded to UNMC scientists, and UNMCs funding from the National Institutes
of Health increased by 28 percent, going from $16.2 million to $20.7 million.
UNMCs educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals
practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.