Thirty-five Indianola eighth and ninth grade GEAR UP students recently visited SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma City. The museum is a unique educational experience that focuses on the form and function of the skeletal system. The tour began with an introduction to osteology followed by the difference between extant, which is still existing, and extinct, which is not existing. The students participated in a scavenger hunt designed to help them investigate different specimens in the museum. The exhibits include adaptation, locomotion, classification and diversity of the vertebrate kingdom.

Students who attended the trip were: Kaydence Beams, Bethany Box, Brenden Dugan, Jalen Eddington, Baylie Gardner, Brayden Hall, Kaleb Johnston, Devon Marshall, Jasmine Myers, Terran Pitts, Kaylie Rife, Alexis Sampson, Allessandra Santine, Charles Turley, Brianna Wallace, Gracie Ward, Elijah Williamson, Zachary Wilson, Seth Arnold, Jaden Boatner, Dusty Bush, Abbi Collins, Megan Eldridge, Parker Fox, Jason Haws, Hailey Martin, Casey Mekler, John Mendes, Tiffany McNeelis, Joshua O’Dell, Jaidi Painter, Noah Peterson, Angel Skinner, Krysta Tracy, and Garrett Townley.

The field trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP. Eastern received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant in 2017, and will serve more than 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.