The Alliance in focus: Gavin Graves

Sixty-five members of the UNMC High School Alliance are among the students taking classes at UNMC this academic year.

The students come from high schools around Omaha and take college-level classes to prepare for health careers. For an entire academic year, the students spend half a day, every weekday, on the UNMC campus.

Today we meet:

• Name: Gavin Graves
• High school: Millard North High School
• Year: Junior

How did you learn about the UNMC High School Alliance?

I first learned about the UNMC High School Alliance through a former student in the program during my freshmen year. Her sister and I were good friends, and she was talking about the program one night. I Googled the program and read the website. Ironically, I came across the “Alliance in Focus” series while searching for my information.

What sparked your interest in science?

My seventh-grade teacher, Nancy Brummel, did such an amazing job at pushing students beyond the minimal standards of the curriculum. Although she made sure to teach all her students the knowledge they needed to know, her teaching style was never “teaching to the test.” Mrs. Brummel created a very engaging, challenging and welcoming science classroom that really pulled my attention more than any other class. One of our last units in the year was about human anatomy, and the combination of her teaching and the material irreversibly shaped my education trajectory toward science, medicine and more challenging pathways.

What are your career aspirations?

Before this program, biomedical engineering was definitely the direction I was most interested in, but the UNMC High School Alliance has complicated that goal in a very stimulating and excellent way. My exposure to medical science every day and specific occupations has broaden my interest and only enriched my appreciation for health care and science. At this point, I am hoping to study autoimmune diseases or potentially practice medicine.

What are your three favorite things about the UNMC High School Alliance experience so far?

• All of my instructors have done an excellent job at providing engaging and in-depth education about medicine science.
• The High School Alliance has been fantastic about providing opportunities for everyone in the program and helping connect students with people and activities that interest us individually.
• Although students in this program are from numerous school districts, the High School Alliance has done amazing job at creating an inviting and considerate environment that really fosters community building and education.