Months of preparation were rewarded earlier this month when two Great Bend High School seniors, MacKenzie Drewel and Paige Drew, were named runner-up in the statewide “Night @ The Lab” competition hosted by the University of Kansas Medical Center.

“Night @ The Lab” is designed to give students the opportunity to research medical topics and create a visual display as well as an oral presentation. After competing in front of a panel of community volunteers, regional winners advance to a statewide competition where presentations are judged by medical center staff and faculty.

Although the event was held virtually again this year, there are research, public speaking, and life skills to gain in the process, shared Andrea Stalcup, science teacher and Night @ the Lab sponsor at GBHS.

“My students began researching and building their presentations in November for the regional competition,” said Stalcup. “When given this year’s orthopedic topic of ‘limb lengthening,’ MacKenzie and Paige designed a presentation that provided medical information about the procedure while following the true-life story of Anna Booth, who was diagnosed with achondroplasia. They concluded their presentation with what the future could hold for this procedure.”

“This made for the highlight of my senior year,” said Drewel. “We worked hard on making sure our research and present all fit together. It was really like a big puzzle.”