12 high schools test anatomy prowess at Anatomage Tournament

A unique anatomy competition, hosted recently by Pennsylvania College of Technology, connected students from 12 Pennsylvania high schools with future health career opportunities as they proved their knowledge in a gaming-style contest.

Wellsboro Area High School took first place in the inaugural Penn College Anatomage Regional Tournament. Team members Gabe Carpenter, Karter Campbell, Lucas Cuneo and Paige Logsdon each won a $1,000 Penn College scholarship and an invitation to the National Anatomage Tournament at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, at the end of May.

Also earning invitations to compete in Las Vegas were the second-place team, from SUN Area Technical Institute, members of which won $500 Penn College scholarships; the third-place team, from Benton Area Jr./Sr. High School, who won $250 Penn College scholarships; and the fourth-place team, from Montoursville Area High School, who won Penn College bookstore gift cards.

Members of the second-, third- and fourth-place teams:

• SUN Area Technical Institute: Olivia Derr, Kiarra Neilson, Genesis Vazquez-Ramos and Landon Wagner.
• Benton Area Jr./Sr. High School: Malaia Hart, Caleb Lahey, Cole Rooker and Kaitlyn Westover.
• Montoursville Area High School: Marley Bigelow, Zenna Bowes, Savanna Milholin and Bella Orwig.

Scholarships were funded by Bayada Home Health Care, Geisinger Medical Center and Mount Nittany Medical Center (competition sponsors) and UPMC and Wellspan Health (workshop sponsors).

Anatomage Inc. hosts 40 regional tournaments for high school students throughout the country. The Penn College Regional Anatomage Tournament is the first in northcentral Pennsylvania. The events test students’ knowledge using Anatomage Table 3D technology, which is used in education settings from high school through medical school.

“We showcased the future of health care education with the Anatomage Table, a remarkable 3D visualization platform that allowed high school students to explore real patient anatomy in an interactive, life-sized format,” explained Elizabeth S. Gizenski, director of the college’s surgical technology program. “This experience not only sparked their interest in our nursing and health science programs, but also demonstrated the transformative power of technology in learning.”

In the competition’s preliminary round, 20 teams from the 12 participating schools had five minutes to answer 25 questions about systems and structures in the body. The top eight teams entered a tournament bracket, with progressively more difficult challenges in head-to-head eliminations.

When not competing, teams engaged in hands-on activities in Penn College’s nursing, physical therapist assistant, radiography and surgical technology labs.

“The hands-on workshops were an invaluable experience for students,” said Valerie A. Myers, dean for the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. “The workshops enhanced the students’ understanding of the various health care career paths, helped them develop essential skills, and assisted them in building confidence. This exposure will help the students make informed decisions about their future career path.”

Other schools competing in the tournament were Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, Eastern Center for Arts and Technology, Hughesville Jr./Sr. High School, Jersey Shore Area Senior High School, Keystone Central Career and Technical Center, Lycoming Career and Technology Center, Muncy High School and Williamsport Area High School.

To learn more about Penn College’s nursing and health sciences majors, call 570-327-4519.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

Local ABC affiliate WNEP-TV visited the competition.