Summer program offers help to low-income high schoolers

Instead of working this summer, 44 local high school honor students from low-income families will study for six weeks at the University.

The University Preparatory Program, a three-year program initiated last year by sociology professor Miguel Centeno, provides educational resources for Mercer County high school students from economically disadvantaged families.

The program serves to help these students qualify for admission to top universities, where the competitive admissions process tends to favor students with financial advantages, Centeno said.

"The problem is that the competition for admission has become so intense that anyone from the working class or below is working at a very serious disadvantage because of the advantages that class provides," he said.

This year 21 rising sophomores, chosen on the basis of socio-economic level and performance on the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment standardized test, will join the 23 rising juniors returning from last year.

The students are taught by local high school teachers under the guidance of the University's teacher preparation program. Each participating student will receive $1,000 each, with $250 toward college education.

Four University undergraduates have been hired as teaching assistants — Rebecca Canate '04, Brandon Paige '04, Brandon Lee Nicolson '05 and Muoyo Okome '05.

The six-week program started last summer under the guidance of John Webb, teacher preparation program director, and Richard Carter, program administrator.

"I feel the program has been successful in that it has exposed the students to a world of possibilities in some very tangible and concrete ways," Carter said.

The curriculum includes science and math courses, a reading and writing workshop and an arts studio. There are plans to collaborate this summer with Firestone Library and the Art Museum.

As a supplement to the academic experience it provides, the program also organizes weekly arts activities for students. Last summer's cultural events included a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, performances of "Music Man" on Broadway and "The Magic Flute" at McCarter Theatre and a sailing excursion in Delaware Bay.

Carter said the students have been engaged and eager to participate. Centeno said he is optimistic that their enthusiasm will motivate their high school peers.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"We hope there will be a demonstration effect in the high schools where these kids can serve as inspirations or models for other kids," he said.

The program includes several year-round initiatives to guide the students through their academic work. University sophomores serve as mentors to the high schoolers, and graduate students visit the schools as tutors.

Both Carter and Centeno are pleased with the program's success thus far, but Centeno said the real reward will come if the participants are accepted to leading schools.

"We won't know if it's a success until this first cohort graduates from high school, and we see what universities they end up at," he said. "But it is a success in that all 23 kids from last summer are coming back."