Seventy eighth-grade students from 18 schools across Nebraska attended
UNMC’s seventh annual Health/Science Meet earlier this month 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, Chadron, North Platte,
Hastings, Lincoln and Omaha.
The expense-paid meet exposes students to the health professions, medical
research and patient care. Activities included touring UNMC’s 67-acre campus,
learning about anesthesiology, physical therapy, radiation sciences, basic
medical tools, organ donation and the making of prostheses.
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 2000 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 1999 Health/Science Meet, their
schools and their hometowns are listed below:
SCHOOL
STUDENT HOMETOWN
AQUINAS MIDDLE SCHOOL Craig Eller David
City
Brian Zimmer David City
BLUE HILL COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Abbey Meents Blue Hill
Danielle Schmidt Blue Hill
BLUFFS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Jack Arnold Scottsbluff
Jeff Downey Mitchell
Sarah Furrer Scottsbluff
Kiley Mackie Scottsbluff
Wyatt Martin Scottsbluff
Matthew Rodehorst Scottsbluff
Brandi Wurdeman Scottsbluff
BROKEN BOW MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mark Shirkey Broken Bow
Bryan Vaughan Broken Bow
ELKHORN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Jessica Mehlin Elkhorn
GRANT MIDDLE SCHOOL
Chris Burge Grant
Tara Croup Grant
Zach Harris Grant
Dusty Marquardt Grant
Danielle Pofahl Grant
Russell Swan Grant
HAIG PUBLIC SCHOOL
Amanda Chatterton Scottsbluff
Elizabeth MacDonald Scottsbluff
HYANNIS HIGH SCHOOL
Jeremy Ash Hyannis
Joslyn Dyer Hyannis
Amanda Sheets Hyannis
Tessa Wilson Hyannis
LINCOLN LUTHERAN
Jared Coffman Hickman
Shandra Miller Lincoln
Krista Petersen Lincoln
Ruth Taege Lincoln
Rachel Warneke Lincoln
NELIGH-OAKDALE SCHOOLS
Emily Grant Neligh
Lindsey Novak Neligh
OMAHA
Beveridge Middle School
Ellie Kirke Omaha
Kristin Waszak Omaha
King Science Center
Trevor Brown Omaha
Brian Carrillo Omaha
Cassie Foral Omaha
Jason Markley Omaha
Tanya Potts Omaha
Carolyn Schaeffer Omaha
Amir Zeb Omaha
McMillan Magnet Center
Matt Fowler Omaha
Billy Gottsch Omaha
Ben Lyons Omaha
Nicki Paul, Jr. Omaha
Ryan Penland Omaha
Carol Redwing Omaha
Rachel Rentschler Omaha
Sarah Williams Omaha
Monroe Middle School
Athena Perry Omaha
POTTER-DIX MIDDLE SCHOOL
Chelsie Maas Potter
Shelby Mathewson Potter
Donald Vizina Potter
Paul Ward Dix
SOUTH PLATTE SCHOOL
Valerie Armstrong Brule
Brandi Kreider Brule
ST. PATRICKS HIGH SCHOOL
Jessica Halter North Platte
Kirby Moore North Platte
SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Lauren Mischke Kearney