NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - The newest surgical machinery at Great Plains Health officially has a name thanks to a 6th grader in North Platte.
Mrs. Raegan Skillstad’s 6th grade class at McDaid Elementary School poses for a picture Thursday afternoon with their check from Great Plains Health for winning the surgical equipment naming contest. (Source: Holly Barraclough, KNOP TV)
Last month, Great Plains Health received a brand new piece of surgical robotic equipment, the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, and they held a naming contest for it among 10 area schools.
“When Mrs. Skillstad showed us pictures of the machine, I thought because there was a bunch of arms, I thought of Ursula from The Little Mermaid because she had a bunch of arms,” said Uerling.
Mrs. Skillstad said her class is very excited to win the prize money and they going to make it go far.
“We’re going to do some pretty big fun things,” said Skillstad, “We’re looking into taking a fun field trip, we of course are going to get together and have a big party with food, probably a pizza party, and maybe just take care of some basic housekeeping things here.”
Both Skillstad and Uerling wanted to thank Great Plains for the contest.
“I’m really thankful that Great Plains Health gave us an opportunity to be a part of it,” said Skillstad, “What a great way to include the youth in this exciting time for our community.”
Uerling’s winning entry of the naming contest earned her a $50 gift card to Wild Bills Fun Center and a $250 check for her class.
Great Plains also held a contest for the most creative drawing of the equipment and that winner was Riggin Hutchison of Hershey elementary. He receives the same award.