African-American Students Get First Exposure to Health Care through UNMC Community Academy Exploration Program

Eight junior high and high school students from Omaha have completed

a six-week summer program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

designed to give the students practical health care information and perhaps

inspire them to pursue a future health care career.

The students, all African-Americans, spent three full days a week at

UNMC and experienced a wide range of educational and hands-on activities.

Some of the educational programs included sessions on the dangers of street

drugs, tobacco and its effect on your body, and how to make smart decisions

to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.

Hands-on activities included using a microscope and stethoscope and

receiving CPR and first aid training and certification. The students also

toured the LifeNet helicopter at UNMC and Nebraska Health System, the American

Red Cross blood bank, a water sewage plant and a fire station.

The project — the UNMC Community Academy Exploration Program — was

coordinated by Lisa Jewell of the UNMC Student Services Department. Students

participating in the program will be entering the 8th, 9th or 10th grade

this fall. They were recommended for the program by the Pacesetter Academy

at the Omaha Public Schools, teachers and other members of the community.

Each student had to fill out an application and explain why they wanted

to participate in the program.

“The idea behind the program is to expose minority students to something

they wouldn’t normally experience,” Jewell said. “We don’t want them to

know about UNMC only when they get sick or injured. We want them to see

what wonderful things happen here and how we can make a difference in people’s

lives. I like to think we’re serving as a UNMC Prep for these students.

“It was exciting working with these students and watching them learn.

Not that many students are willing to give up 18 days of their summer vacation

to do something like this. I think it’s terrific that they were willing

to make this sort of commitment.”

Jewell said the program will be offered year-around by UNMC, starting

in September. During the school year, students will come to UNMC two Saturdays

each month. She hopes to have enough students that she can break them into

different age groups.

People wanting more information on the Community Academy Exploration

Program should contact Jewell at 559-6357.

Students participating in the program this summer are listed below with

their school and grade they will be attending in the fall:

BENSON HIGH SCHOOL Precious Bonner, 9th grade, and Tristynn Carter,

9th grade;


CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Eboni Lampkin, 10th grade;


NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL Laura Jones, 9th grade, and Marvin Malepeai,

9th grade;


MCMILLAN JUNIOR HIGH Roger Dollison, 8th grade;


NATHAN HALE JUNIOR HIGH Chantia Bowles, 8th grade, and Shamiesha

Johnson, 8th grade.

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 and solid organ transplantation. More than

$34 million in research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists

annually. In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for

training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other

institution.