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Thirty-seven Hamilton students and four science faculty recently joined forces to introduce local middle school students to college-level discussion about public health issues.

In early February Hamilton students went to nearby Westmoreland middle school to brainstorm with students about their selected topics on global health problems. Topics ranged from infectious diseases to other global problems such as water supply and epilepsy.  Later in the month the middle school students visited Hamilton to present their projects to “a panel of experts” consisting of the remaining class members and Hamilton faculty Robin Kinnel (chemistry), and Ernest Williams, Dave Gapp and Herm Lehman (biology).

This project came about as a result of Lehman’s wife Nancy listening to his Intro. to Public Health class students’ goals. A Westmoreland middle school social studies teacher, she began seeking opportunities to merge social studies and the sciences at the middle school.  Nancy Lehman, Joanne Granza (science), Jim Cichon (librarian) and Mo LaLonde (Westmoreland STEM coordinator)  were instrumental in organizing the event at WCS. 

Hamilton student participants were Aaron Beguelin ‘18, Alexandra Betrus ‘18,  Matthew Billet ‘15, Megan Blair ‘16, Sarah Bowler ‘17, Victoria Bullivant ‘18, John DeGuardi ‘16, Joseph Dixon ‘18, Sahyli Febles ‘15, Hannah Ferris ‘16, Connor Flynn ‘15, Emily Hedison ‘17, Ryan Hobson ‘16, Benjamin Howard ‘16, Kathleen Kelly ‘17, McKenna Kelly ‘15, Hanna Kingston ‘15, Siobhan Lambert ‘17, Elizabeth Larson ‘16, Andrew Leopold ‘16, Lindsey Luker ‘15, Keara Lynn ‘16, Sarah Mandel ‘15, Patrick Marris ‘16, Melanie Miller ‘15, Amelia Mitchell ‘18, Jeanette Parra ‘16, Rebecca Patterson ‘15, Sofia Rachad ‘18, James Robbins ‘16, Raymond Schulmeyer ‘17, Samantha Sherman ‘15, Adelaide Smith ‘15, Katherine Steates ‘15, Tzu Hsiang Tai ‘17, Natalie Warren ’15 and Hannah Zucker ’15.

Herm Lehman hopes the event can happen again in the future. “Hamilton students enjoyed the event and I strongly believe that both groups strongly benefited from the experience,” he said.  “Westmoreland students were introduced to the many aspects of public health and had the opportunity to present their projects in a 'formal setting'.  Hamilton college students were able to share their knowledge with a group of students eager for the opportunity. Clearly this was win-win for both schools,” Lehman remarked.

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