It's the third year in a row for a science honor to students from Central Noble and East Noble high schools - and the first year for one of CNHS's teachers

 

CNHS junior Brea Reimer, the daughter of Jill Snyder of Albion, has been selected to take part in the Molecular Medicine in Action event at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus, marking the third straight year a CNHS student has been chosen for the event.

 

East Noble senior Kim Springstead has also been selected for the science honor, the third East Noble student in a row to attend the event.

The science teacher for Reimer and all the other CNHS students who've gone, Sara Lake, participated in the first-ever teachers' version of the MMIA last autumn.

It's quite an honor for a student to be selected, Lake said. "Only 50 high school students in the state are picked to participate." Usually 250-300 students apply statewide.

Having a student from a small school like CNHS go for three straight years is an accomplishment, Lake said. On top of that, Reimer is a junior. Normally, seniors are chosen for the event.

MMIA gives Indiana high school seniors hands-on experience in understanding research in human genetics. Students work side-by-side in laboratory stations with Indiana University School of Medicine researchers and physicians in one of the most modern cancer research centers in the United States.

Under the supervision of scientists, small groups of students rotate through work stations and lab sites. They see and learn how modern molecular biology techniques are used for gene discovery, mutation analysis and cellular function. This year's event is March 7-8.

Reimer applied because of her career plans. "I want to go into more of the genetics and molecular side of medicine," she said. She thought the event would help her determine more precisely what she wants to do.

At first Reimer wanted to be a veterinarian, but now she's more interested in human medicine, including biometrics, genetics and oncology, she said.

Reimer was surprised to find out she'd been chosen. "It was kind of wild. I got an e-mail that said I was accepted. It was pretty exciting," she said.

Lake, who has been one of the adult chaperons at previous MMIA events, took part in the newly created MMIA for teachers in the autumn of 2009. "We actually went through the program like the kids do," she said.

Students at the event are chaperoned, but Lake said she won't be one of them this year. She prefers to let a teacher who hasn't had the opportunity to take the teacher course chaperone, since they can still learn a lot by doing so.

Brandy Buchanan attended MMIA from CNHS in 2009. Whitney Grey was the 2008 MMIA participant from the school.
CNHS isn't the only school with a student going to MMIA for the third straight year. Springstead was selected based on her application, an essay and recommendations from her science teacher Mark Liepe. She plans to attend college and major in physics and chemistry with a career goal of becoming a cardiologist.

MMIA was developed by representatives of the Riley Children's Foundation, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, I.U. School of Medicine, Pathology Multimedia Education Group, Indiana Association of Biology Teachers, Hoosier Association of Science Teachers and Indiana Department of Education.

The event is paid for through endowments from the Lilly Foundation and the Riley Children's Foundation, so it is free to participants, Lake said. "Hopefully, this will go on and on and on."