Be a Health Science Explorer
Grow into a health science career with UNK. Explore opportunities from 7th grade through college graduation and get on a track to success. Students with an interest in health science careers can participate in this pipeline program through on-campus field trips (7th-8th grade), summer day camps, special campus visits, week-long camps (high school) and eventually college-level collaboration (undergraduate and professional school).
Follow the Pipeline to Success
Middle School
(7th - 8th Grade
Middle School – Junior High (Grades 7-8):
- Participate in the Health Science Explorers camps during the school year.
- It’s time to begin thinking about extracurricular activities you might want to pursue in high school.
- Talk with your parents, guardians, siblings, friends, teachers and/or counselors about your plans for the future.
High School
(Entering Grades 9-12)
High School (Grades 9-12):
- Participate in Health Science Explorers Camps during the school year and in the summer.
- Participate in Health Science Explorers Career Club virtually.
- Participant in the week-long Health Science Explorers Camp in the summer.
- Attend the UNK Health Careers Fair.
- Attend UNK Science Day.
- Ensure you are taking plenty of science and math classes to build upon your knowledge for college-level classes.
- Focus on strengthening all your academic skills including English and Reading.
- Begin volunteering and job shadowing. Do not forget to track your hours and experiences.
- Prepare for and take the ACT test. Take this multiple times until you achieve a desired ACT score.
- Talk with your parents, guardians, siblings, friends, teachers and/or counselors about your plans for the future.
- Concentrate on your time management skills and establish proper study habits.
- Apply for the KHOP scholarship before December 1 of your senior year or the Explorers Learning Community before March 1.
- Take a campus tour.
Undergraduate Opportunities
Undergraduate Opportunities:
- KHOP collaborative programming with UNMC.
- With the KHOP scholarship opportunity, you will live within the KHOP Learning Community in CTW.
- Students who do not participate in the KHOP program, may participate in Explorers Learning Community in CTW.
- Seek out support, advice, and education from the UNK Health Sciences Department including weekly newsletters, workshops, meetings, career fairs, and academic advising each semester.
- Continue volunteering and job shadowing.
- Get involved in community service, campus leadership, internships, research, and student clubs
- Health Science Club
- Health Science Honor Society (Alpha Epsilon Delta)
- Many other opportunities on campus including over 170 student organizations
Health Science Professional Students
Health Science Professional Students:
- Become a part of the AHEC Scholars Program.
- Continue volunteering and mentoring. Do not forget to track your hours and experiences.
- Seek out speaking opportunities. Talk to the staff in the Health Science office for opportunities.
Health Science Events
Contact Information
Sara Bruner
Health Science Explorers Coordinator
bruners@unk.edu
308-865-8144
A hosted Area Health Education Center (AHEC) operating in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska AHEC Program Office, supported in part through HRSA grant number U77HP21499.
