Students at Warrenton High School are getting the opportunity to create their own version of the hit television series “CSI.”Twice a day Dan Burkemper welcomes curious minds into his biomedical engineering class to help solve a mystery that will span the entire semester. Recently, students began investigating a mock crime scene to determine the cause of death.The catch — it may not be a crime after all. Students are given clues about the victim’s health background and lifestyle and must decide if foul play was involved or whether another factor caused the fatality.“I think it’s a murder, because there’s a footprint,” said Catherine Le, doubting her theory moments later after remembering additional evidence.Others are equally uncertain.A victim lies face down with an array of evidence, including blood, vomit, a needle and pills surrounding her body.“There’s a lot of stuff we don’t know yet,” echoed classmate Grace Hayes. “Maybe she took pills for diabetes. But three pills?”The class is one of the Project Lead the Way courses offered by the district to help students prepare for the workforce. Many students find their calling in these specialty tracks.“Most of the students who sign up for the class are students who have an interest in a career in the medical field in some way,” said Burkemper. “Hopefully this is at least a basic entry level class about some of the common diseases that are going on in the health field today like heart disease, infectious disease, diabetes and sickle cell anemia.”Students have to learn very independently in the Project Lead the Way courses, relying on self-motivation or teamwork with classmates. In many ways it simulates an actual college course.“I want to go into nursing, so I like learning about a lot of different medical things, because that stuff really interests me,” said Madi Reed. “I like learning in the classroom setting so you can get the right information, because TV shows aren’t accurate.”The students’ work is just beginning for this semester, as they will explore the medical history of the victim and possible outcomes for death. They will learn the value of being thorough, withholding initial judgment and considering all possibilities.

Students in the Biomedical Engineering course at Warrenton High School investigate the scene of a mock death during class last Friday morning. Biomedical engineering is one of the Project Lead the Way courses the district offers in an effort to prepare students for potential career fields. 

Record photo/Derrick Forsythe