UNMC hosts appreciation lunch for high school principals

Lincoln East High School representatives are, from left, Counselor Karen Dress, Adrienne James (College of Medicine), and Counselor Rozanne Snoberger.

UNMC began the 2003-04 academic year with an enrollment of 2,865 students. Each year the majority of the university’s students come from public, rural, private and urban school districts throughout Nebraska.

In 2001, UNMC’s Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs (OSEMA) inaugurated an annual appreciation lunch for the principals of schools that send six or more graduates to the incoming fall class. This year, 20 schools met this qualification. Representatives from 11 of those schools came to the campus on Oct. 14 and had lunch with their former students and UNMC faculty.

Marian High School representatives are, from left, Megan Irwin and Jackie Schieber (College of Medicine), Assistant Principal Kathy Tompkins, and Cerinda Morales (College of Pharmacy).

“This lunch is an opportunity to thank the schools for the education and guidance they gave these students,” said Mary McNamee, Ph.D., associate director of OSEMA. “It’s always a good time because many of the principals haven’t seen the students since they graduated. Both the school representatives and our faculty enjoy mutual relationships with the students. They’re alumni of their hometown schools and now it’s our turn to make them alumni of UNMC.

“Moreover, while UNMC plays a tremendous role in providing health science education for Nebraskans, we never want to lose sight of the importance of individual high schools in directing students to our university. These are bright students and many of them could have pursued other options.”

From left, Jim Temme, associate director, UNMC School of Allied Health Professions Radiation Science Technology Division, with Ralston High School Assistant Principal Terry Lentz, Andrea Dahl (Radiography), Nicole Turille (College of Nursing), and Ralston Superintendent Dr. Virginia Moon.

At this year’s luncheon, 34 students came to dine with their alma mater’s representatives. Five of the schools – Lincoln Southeast, Millard North, Millard South, Ralston and Westside – have been invited to the luncheon all three years. Lincoln Southeast had 20 students start at UNMC this year – the highest number of the 20 schools invited.

The schools that sent six or more students into UNMC’s fall 2003 class, followed by the total number of students are: Lincoln Southeast, 20; Kearney Senior, 15; Millard North, Marian, Westside and Fremont, 10; Lincoln Pius X, nine; Alliance, Millard West and Ralston, seven; and Millard South, Gering, McCook, Mercy, Beatrice, Chadron, Elkhorn, Hastings, Lincoln East, and Lincoln High, six.