Pennsdale student secures grants,
gets accepted to medical school
Nathaniel Lamoreaux, son of Patricia and John Lamoreaux, of Pennsdale, recently received his letter of acceptance from the Drexel University College of Medicine, in Philadelphia.
He will be begin classes in the fall of 2013 and will be a member of the medical school graduating class of 2017.
He is a 2009 honors graduate of Muncy High School and a senior student in the BS/MD Program at Wilkes University.
The BS/MD program at Wilkes works in conjunction with the Drexel University College of Medicine throughout the four years of undergraduate education.
Lamoreaux will graduate from Wilkes University in May of 2013 with a bachelor's degree in biology and minors in neuroscience and chemistry.
While at Wilkes, he has earned academic honors each semester, has maintained a 3.75 grade-point average and passed his MCAT testing with one of the highest scores ever obtained by a pre-medicine student at Wilkes.
He served as the president of the Health Sciences Pre-professional Society at Wilkes. He was inducted into the Theta Delta Chapter of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. He is an active member of the Biology Club, and participated in numerous community service events, both on campus and in the community.
He is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar. He secured a prestigious research grant for the summer of 2010 from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and additional grants for the summers of 2011 and 2012.
He worked with school professors and classmates doing research on the levels of environmental toxins from natural gas drilling and mapping rates of parasitic infection in song sparrows in Central and North East Pennsylvania. This project was done in conjunction with the local Department of Environmental Protection.
Lamoreaux attended conferences in California and British Columbia to present the findings of their research and assisted with efforts to secure the research grants for future years.
'Reach Out and Read' program
begins at area Geisinger practices
SELINSGROVE - Getting books from the doctor is now part of regular pediatric checkups at Geisinger-Susquehanna University, a service of Geisinger Medical Center, as doctors and nurses welcome the Reach Out and Read program to the practice.
The clinic joins nearly 5,000 program sites nationwide that are preparing America's youngest children to succeed in school.
Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based program implemented into regular pediatric checkups that advises parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally appropriate books to children.
"Reach Out and Read is a three-step process that involves nurses, doctors and parents," said Amy Hedges, M.D., pediatrician, Geisinger-Susquehanna University. "It begins with consultations about the importance of reading and tips for age-appropriate materials. It then follows up with a new book provided by the pediatrician at each checkup and a literacy-rich environment in the waiting room.
"It is never too early to start a love of reading. The look of joy on a child's face when they get a new book is priceless," said Dr. Hedges.
Reach Out and Read begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities.
Families served by the program read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills.
Reach Out and Read is supported by 15 independently published research studies. During the preschool years, children served by Reach Out and Read were found to score three to six months ahead of their peers on vocabulary tests.
The Reach Out and Read program at Geisinger-Susquehanna University is funded by Children's Miracle Network at Geisinger.
Children's Miracle Network at Geisinger helps fund programs and services for pediatric patients throughout Geisinger Health System including, Geisinger's Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Danville, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, the Geisinger Medical Group and Pediatric Specialty Services offices throughout Pennsylvania.
Essay, art contests announced
Thousands in prizes and awards will be awarded to students and schools in your area. The Essay Contest divisions are: Grades 3-6, 7-9 and 10-12, with 10 top winners in each division.
To enter an essay, write between 100 and 250 words on any nonfiction topic. The deadline for the Essay Contest is Feb. 19.
The Poetry Contest divisions are: Grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12, with 10 top winners in each division.
To enter a poem, submit one original poem in English, 21 lines or less. The deadline for the Poetry Contest is April 11. To submit an Essay or Poetry entry, enter at www.poeticpower. com or mail the entry labeled Poetry or Essay Contest to 159 N. Main, Smithfield, UT 84335.
Entries must include the author's name, address, city, state and zip, current grade, school name, school address and teacher's name. Selected entries of merit will be invited to be published in an anthology.
These are not contests where every entry is published. There is no entry fee to enter the contest or required purchase to be published.
There also is an art contest for students in grades K-12. To enter, take a photo of original art and go to www.celebratingart.com to enter and for contest information. The art contest deadline is April 9.
