Talk to any of the participants in the Oregon Young Scholars Program ― from students to resident advisers, teachers to coordinators ― and they will tell you the same thing: The enthusiasm of the high school students who attend is awe-inspiring, and it’s hard to put the spirit of the program into words.
“Each and every student has a story, and some of them have a background that takes your breath away,” said Fatima Mora Flores, a Eugene School District employee who has been the OYSP coordinator since 2007. “Every single person is unique. Every single one of them will drop you to your knees.”
The Oregon Young Scholars Program began in 2005 as a way to introduce rising Oregon high school freshmen to the possibility of a college education. Most of the youth are from low-income families. Many are from traditionally underrepresented minority communities and are the first in their families to ever consider a college career.
“You meet these students as rising high school freshmen and you become immediately engaged. You stay in touch with them throughout the year, then you can’t wait to see them the following summer,” said resident advisor Torri Kendrick.
Amarianna Barr is a 14-year-old sophomore at Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukie. This is her second summer at OYSP and she is over the nervousness of her first year.
“Last year, I thought this was just going to be academic boot camp, and I wasn’t really looking forward to it,” she said. “But then I discovered it was a great opportunity for me.”
Looking around at the crowd of almost 80 students, faculty and business and community leaders assembled at the OYSP business dinner in the Lillis Atrium on Wednesday, July 16, Barr quickly added, "If I had to pay for this, I wouldn't be here."
The UO Division of Equity and Inclusion and a donor who wishes to remain anonymous fund the program, allowing students to attend for free. They get a true college experience — living in dorms, eating in a dining hall, studying in the library.
Students attend math and writing courses divided by grade every morning and a special subject area class in the afternoon. They work on capstone projects with their teachers, to be presented the last day of camp.
Barr is enjoying her writing class and theater track, but as a future forensic scientist or marine biologist, she looks forward to next year when she can take one of the science tracks, such as cellular biology.
“I know this will help me better my future. In fact, I’m positive about it," she said.
The math and science tracks are important focal points for the program, as most minority communities are underrepresented in those fields.
Leanne Merrill, OYSP’s sophomore and senior math teacher and a UO doctoral student in math, said it’s also important to have a woman standing in front of a math class. Merrill is interested in exploring the pedagogical techniques of how high school students learn math, but she also appreciates the nature of the program.
“The mission is wonderful — it’s awesome,” she said.
While Merrill teaches the seniors about personal finance and budgets and her sophomores how to conduct surveys and chart data, she also learns from them.
“I am developing a cultural awareness I didn’t have before, and I feel bad that I didn’t have it," she said. "It’s emotionally demanding to learn these students' backgrounds and where they come from. I’m so impressed with them.”
Most of the OYSP students, she added, "are more focused, committed and enthusiastic than many of the college students I teach.”
Elaine Acacio, interim OYSP director, said seeing the students accomplish so much in such a short amount of time is inspiring.
"The goal of the program is for these students to envision themselves here, on campus, and making this place excellent,” she said.
The Oregon Young Scholars will present their capstone projects from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 19, in the Many Nations Longhouse.
—Aria Seligmann, Division of Equity and Inclusion