Siler represents Sidney at state science meet

Students from 21 schools across Nebraska qualified to attend the University of Nebraska Medical Center's 23rd annual State Science meet in Omaha earlier this month.

Sidney Middle School eighth grader Quinn Siler received top honors at the regional meet on his presentation about growing plants using hydroponics and earned a chance to attend the state meet.

According to UNMC, the goal of the State Science meet is to inspire students, especially those from rural communities, to pursue careers in health care. The students qualify for the meet by submitting science projects and receiving high scores in one of seven regional meets sponsored by the Nebraska Area Health Education Centers and the Coalition for Life Saving Cures.

"We got to see the campus, and we got information in the different areas of science to see what we might be interested in," Siler said. "My favorite presentation was being able to hold human organs."

The 56 eighth-graders were able to stay at the University of Nebraska-Omaha Scott Residence Hall during the time of the meet. They also received hands-on science and health information from health science disciplines, toured the UNMC campus and competed in a team science contest.

Students were exposed to different health professions, medical research as well as patient care at the Peter Kiewit Institute of Information Science and Technology and Engineering. Following the presentations students competed in teams in the "Quiz Bowl," followed by a certificate ceremony.