YOUNG SCHOLARS LIVE AND LEARN COLLEGE LIFE

   COLUMBUS –- Nearly 300 minority high school students will arrive at The Ohio State University Sunday (7/18) to spend two weeks attending classes, living in residence halls and taking part in career exploration as part of the Young Scholars Program (YSP) Samuel DuBois Cook Summer Scholars Conference.

   The Scholars, 9th- through 12th-grade students from nine Ohio cities, will participate in an intensive program of academic enrichment, study and social skills enhancement, and exposure to career opportunities. The Scholars will arrive at 3 p.m. at Bradley Hall, 221 W. 12th Ave.

   The Young Scholars Program provides year-round academic, personal and skill development opportunities for economically disadvantaged Ohio minority youth. Its main objective is to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority groups who enroll and succeed in colleges and universities.

   The conference, held every summer since 1988, is a chance for the students to meet, live and experience what it is like to be a student at Ohio State.

   Paula Smith, acting director of YSP, attributes the Young Scholars’ success to the commitment, determination and intelligence of the students, the dedication of their parents, and the minority affairs and YSP staff.

   “One of the significant challenges we face is assuring that students enrolled in our public schools, particularly those for whom college and graduation have not typically been an option, are motivated and well-prepared to engage in university-level studies upon graduation from high school,” Smith said. “This need, coupled with the national need for minority college graduates, motivated the university to establish YSP.”

   Students are chosen in the sixth grade based on a written essay, grades and a standardized test. They are selected by a committee of educators in their hometowns: Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lorain, Toledo and Youngstown.

   They must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and take college preparatory classes in high school to remain eligible for the program. Middle schoolers take math classes on Saturday mornings, and high school students attend two-hour tutoring sessions twice weekly after school and participate in career and cultural programs throughout the school year.

   Young Scholars are guaranteed admission to Ohio State, along with financial aid, if they successfully complete the program through high school graduation with a 3.0 grade point average or better in a college preparatory curriculum.

   Funding for the program comes from Ohio State, grants and other sources.

   The summer conference was changed last year. Previously scheduled as a separate week for each grade, it now is a two-week rigorous format for selected 9th- through 12th-graders. The change allows more integration of the students through lectures and intensive hands-on workshops that further advance the personal, academic and career development of the students.

   The academic curriculum includes classes in math, science, computers, art, English, music and foreign language. The Scholars also will attend sessions and workshops on learning expectations and preparation, time management, critical thinking, career development and social interaction.

   The summer institute is named in honor of Ohio State alumnus Samuel DuBois Cook, president emeritus of Dillard University.

Contact: Tracy Turner, University Communications, (614) 688-3682