spring/summer 2008 - Juan Diego Catholic High School

Academé
Brain Awareness Week
university of Utah students and
faculty from the Neuroscience
Program visited Juan Diego,
giving presentations as part of
National Brain Awareness Week.
Juan Diego science instructor Dr.
Christine Celestino rotated student
groups through various stations to
learn the different aspects of neuroscience,
comparative neuroanatomy, and
human brain anatomy. Experts in
methamphetamine and psychological
research spoke about the effects
of drugs on the brain, showing a
brain that had been severely damaged
by trauma related to cocaine
overdose. Researchers of brain
development brought zebrafish and
roundworms that had been genetically
altered so that parts of the nervous
system glowed green with GFP
(green fluorescent protein), and gave
students the opportunity to observe
these model organisms with a high
powered fluorescence microscope. Dr.
Cranial knowledge brought to Juan Diego.
Neuroscience Program piques students' interest
Susan Stensaas, a Professor of the
University of Utah Neuroanatomy
and Physiology department, used
human brains from the School of
Medicine to demonstrate both anatomy
and disease of the human brain.
8
Quiz Bowl
This is the first year Quiz Bowl
did not take the state championship
since its formation in 2006.
Senior Tom Batts was determined to
make a run at the national tournament
in Chicago, foregoing his own
commencement ceremony to make
the trip. Tom Batts, Nick Bertagnolli,
Mick Torres, PJ Maresca, Sara Lynch,
Shane Patterson, Erik Synowicki, Gus
Schwab, Ashton Mata, Pete Austria,
Maranda Lebrecht, and Nelson Nieto
made up this year's team. Led by
coach Steve Mond (who auditioned
for Jeopardy in March), the team is
sure to be a major contendor next
year.
Watch for new
Academy of Sciences in
2008–09!
photos this page: Year Book Staff