Academic Preview Day provides a glimpse into future career paths

by Vicki Nechodomu  |   

  • Grace Leu Burke discussing MLS
    Associate professor and Program Director of Medical Laboratory Science, Grace Leu-Burke, shows mock bacteria cultures in petri dishes to Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Social Work care bear
    Social work faculty and staff invited Anchorage-area high school students to take a photo with the "social work cares" care bear during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Rya Fortson presents to students
    Associate professor and Legal Studies Program Coordinator, Ryan Fortson, presents a fairy tale themed mock-trial to Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography
    Diagnostic Medical Sonography student, Ryan Benedict, demonstrates how to use a portable ultrasound machine to Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Mara at ISU Pharmacy table
    Alaska Programs Coordinator Mara Seignemartin, shares information on the Doctor of Pharmacy Program with Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Sugical Technology
    UAA alumni and current Lead Surgical Technician at Providence Hospital, Lovely Arcelie Agustin, shares information on the Surgical Technology program with Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Tracy Burke presents to students
    Professor Tracey Burke presents information on the School of Social Work to Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Speech Language Path
    Term assistant professor, Megan Bennett, shares information on the Speech-Language Pathology program with Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • RRANN
    Elizabeth Adame, Student Success Facilitator from the Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN) program asks Anchorage-area high school  students to point out anatomy on a skeleton to win prizes during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Human services presentation
    Assistant professor Seta Kabranian-Melkonian (left) and Program Coordinator Jenifer Leigh (right) present information on the Department of Human Services to Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Medical Assisting
    Term assistant professor Danny Elmore, shares information on the Medical Assisting program with Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • School of Nursing presentation
    School of Nursing Academic Specialist Katie Frost presents information on the nursing career field to Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Drunk simulation steering wheel
    Anchorage-area high school students line up for UAA’s Justice Center activity. They try navigating a maze while wearing simulation goggles that mimic the effects of drunkenness during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • School of Nursing table
    School of Nursing Nursing Skills Lab Assistant, Susan Stake, showed models of anatomy used in the program to Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Dietetics and Nutrtion
    Assistant professor Amy Urbanus shares information on the Dietetics and Nutrition program with Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • HPER table
    Term assistant professor and Program Director of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation department, Eric Oba, tests Anchorage-area high school student’s grip strength during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Kristen Stoepler presenting about health sciences
    Assistant professor Kristin Stoepler presents information on the Division of Population Health Sciences to Anchorage-area high school students during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation. (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)
  • Social Work bracelets
    Anchorage-area high school students made friendship bracelets at the School of Social Work booth during UAA’s 2023 Academic Preview Day. The event gives junior and senior students an opportunity to explore university programs before graduation.  (Photo by Chynna Lockett/UAA College of Health)

On Sept. 22, 2023, over 500 enthusiastic Anchorage-area high school juniors and seniors gathered at the Alaska Airline Center for UAA's Academic Preview Day. The annual event presents an opportunity for young minds to explore the myriad of career and academic paths awaiting them at UAA.

Among the array of booths representing a diverse spectrum of academic programs were 17 College of Health tables brimming with engaging activities. Attendees were encouraged to immerse themselves in the world of clinical, community, behavioral, and public health through interactive activities such as:

These hands-on activities allowed students to engage in conversations and discussions with program faculty, shedding light on academic avenues available to them. Kristen Stoepler, an assistant professor of Health Sciences, spoke with a student who is planning to pursue a clinical graduate program and was nervous about the prospects of leaving the state to pursue a degree. Stoepler was able to inform her about the Health Sciences pre-professional track that offers all the prerequisites locally.

"I was grateful to have the chance to staff our booth and inform the student they could indeed complete their undergraduate degree right here in their hometown,” said Stoepler. "I wish we could have captured the smile on the student's face when she left!"

Eric Oba, the chair of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation program, noticed a surge in interest at their booth thanks to an interactive element - a grip-strength leaderboard. 

"On several occasions I saw students look at our Grip-Strength Challenge leaderboard, walk away, and then come back with a student from their school who they felt could potentially make it to the top of the board," said Oba, describing what soon became a school vs. school challenge. "We haven't typically seen that kind of engagement at our booth. To see students come back to the table multiple times was incredible and gave us multiple opportunities to talk about our programs and what we do!"

Many faculty had the opportunity to interact with the adult educators, counselors, and chaperones, expanding their knowledge of programs offered, and opening doors to future collaborations such as field trips and presentations. 

Are you a UAA College of Health employee wishing to get involved with recruitment? Please learn more on the COH Intranet. 

Are you a proapective student wishing to learn more about a UAA College of Health Program? Learn more here. 

Are you an educator or community member looking for opportuntieis to collaborate on group presentations, demonstrations, and tours? Learn more about our menu of outreach and recruitment offerings.

 

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