Academic Preview Day provides a glimpse into future career paths
by Vicki Nechodomu |
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 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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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:
Crafting beaded friendship bracelets and taking a selfie with the "social work cares"
care bear with the School of Social Work.
Navigating a maze filled with pedestrians while wearing simulation goggles that mimic
the effects of drunkenness, courtesy of the Justice and Legal Studies programs.
Attending interactive information sessions with Legal Studies, Social Work, Human
Services, and Health Sciences
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.