Union Adventist University

You may know that Dwain Leonhardt is medical director of the Physician Assistant Program, but you may not know that he has a talent that earned him recognition as Athlete of the Week by TV station, KLKN.

Athlete of the week: Dwaine Leonhardt At Adventure Golf Center in Lincoln, it's hard not to know the name, Dwaine Leonhardt. He's atop all three leaderboards at the course.

Wearing an arm brace and propelling herself in a wheelchair, a day camper rushed past Dr. Rumery and a camp counselor. It was just one leg of a relay race using assistive technologies hosted by the Occupational Therapy Program as Union welcomed 16 middle school students to campus for Bright Lights Medquest Camp.

The kids are exploring health care careers all this week with visits to programs at Bryan College of Health Sciences, Southeast Community College and Union Adventist University. At Union, they first visited the International Rescue and Relief Program to learn about jobs in medicine, emergency management, and as first responders before meeting the faculty of the Occupational Therapy Program. In addition to the relay race, activities included learning rope rescue techniques, a treasure hunt and root beer floats.

Bright Lights day camps have been a Lincoln institution since they were founded in 1987. The organization gives kids summer options that combine learning with play. Dr. Emily Rumery, director of Union’s Occupational Therapy Program, remembers participating in a medical-themed Bright Lights camp as a girl. “I’m proof these camps work,” Rumery said. “It’s never too early to start thinking about careers and the education needed to get there.”

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. That's how many of these physician assistant graduates passed their national certifying examination. Congratulations class of 2026.