Fifty-seven eighth-grade students from 32 schools across Nebraska attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s 17th annual Health/Science Meet June 11-13, for an educational and fun experience.
The meet’s goal is to inspire students, 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 earlier in the year.
The expense-paid meet exposed students to the health professions, medical research and patient care. Events included hands-on science activities, presentations about a variety of health science disciplines, touring UNMC, a team science competition and entertainment.
Students interested in applying to attend next year’s eighth-grade Health/Science Meet, sponsored by the Nebraska Area Health Education Center, should contact their science teacher, school counselor or principal in the fall.
Below is a list of all the students who participated, including their hometown and school.
Ainsworth: Jayne Barrow, Katie Brown, Brandon Clark, and Melissa Franklin, Ainsworth Community Schools
Allen: Hannah Finnegan, Jordyn Jensen, and Ana Maria Lopez, Allen Consolidated Schools
Cedar Rapids: Trey Mogensen, Cedar Rapids Public
Coleridge: Hannah Burbach and Rachel Flaugh, Coleridge High School
Columbus: Taylor Brunken and Cory Hladky, Columbus Middle School
Dix: Juliet Ball and Kenna Smith, Potter-Dix Public School
Elgin: Juliana Dunn and Alex Grosserode, Elgin High School
Elkhorn: Claire Knaus, Elkhorn Middle School
Franklin: Matt Gerdes and Kirk Lennemann, Franklin Middle School
Fremont: Samantha Ann Clark, Jesse Kramme, B.J. Mauer and Matt Shrader, Fremont Middle School
Gothenburg: Kaylee Beyea and Morgan Kowalewski, Gothenburg Secondary School
Gurley: Rachael Ernest and Shannon Evans, Leyton High School
Hildreth: Clay Blank, Wilcox-Hildreth High School
Imperial: Abby Polly, Chase County Schools
Johnson: Jaceey McCoy and Claire E. Rush, Johnson-Brock Public School
Louisville: Konner Lamb, Louisville Public Schools
Madrid: Elliot Carlson, Michael L. Dreiling and Callie Meyer, Perkins County Middle School
Newman Grove: Darienne Pokorny, Newman Grove High School
Norfolk: Abby Stewart, Norfolk Junior High School
North Platte: Charley Halligan, Adams Middle School, Sean Keenan and Adam Pasquinelly, St. Patrick’s Jr. High
Papillion: Jacob Lenz, Papillion Junior High School
Ravenna: Brandon Kusek, Ravenna High School
Raymond: Morgan Rezac, Raymond Central
Scottsbluff: Traver Pettijohn, Bluffs Middle School
Scribner: Linsey Armstrong and Britni Broussard, Scribner-Snyder Community Schools
Seward: Zachary Bruick, St. John Lutheran School
Sidney: Madi Verhulst and Nathaniel Votruba, Sidney Middle School
Springview: Burgandy Bartos, Emily Heerten and Caleb Udd, Keya Paha County School
Syracuse: Alex Lowman, Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Public Schools
Wahoo: Dennis George and Katie Lloyd, Bishop Neumann High School
Wallace: Mark Jameson, Wallace School
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $82 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,600 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
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