Shasta and Sasha stopped by the College of Education to pose with local elementary
school students visiting campus Tuesday.More than 100 students from Third Ward and the surrounding area had a chance to envision themselves as future Coogs during an activity-packed visit to campus this week.
The 91破解版 Advancing Community Engagement and Service Institute organized the campus visits on Tuesday and Wednesday for students from Blackshear, Foster and Hartsfield elementary schools and Yates and Sterling high schools.
鈥淚t was great to have the students come to campus to see all the opportunities and to see themselves as college students here. That鈥檚 our ultimate goal,鈥� said Jon Schwartz, co-director of the ACES Institute and associate dean of graduate studies at the College of Education.
The students participated in educational activities such as making slime and designing T-shirts, played trivia, learned about different majors, and posed for photos with mascots Shasta and Sasha.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an awesome opportunity,鈥� said Kalecia Polk, a teacher from Foster Elementary who accompanied the students. 鈥淛ust being on a college campus 鈥� maybe it will help them realize they can get here. It鈥檚 close, and it鈥檚 attainable.鈥�
Students got a science lesson while making slime during a visit to Tuesday.Polk and her coworker Mona Vaughn said many of their students have never been to , although it鈥檚 only two miles away.
The visit, Vaughn said, was a welcome break after standardized testing.
鈥淭hat seems more punitive. This is more rewarding,鈥� she said.
Fifth-grader Asia Flower said she enjoyed her first assignment on a college campus 鈥� solving multiplication and division problems. She鈥檚 not sure where she鈥檒l go to college but knows she鈥檚 going.
鈥淚 want to be a cancer doctor so I can help people get better,鈥� the 11-year-old said.
Elwyn Lee, a former Blackshear and Yates student who now serves as 鈥檚 vice president for community relations and institutional access, snuck in a lesson on entrepreneurship as he welcomed the fifth-graders Tuesday. Lee oversees 鈥檚 Third Ward Initiative, which focuses on improving education, health, business and the arts in the historic community through strong partnerships.
On Wednesday, the high school students caught on quickly when College of Education Dean Bob McPherson asked them the most important question 鈥� 鈥淲hose house?鈥�
Faculty and staff from the College of Education, Bauer College of Business and Valenti School of Communication worked with the students. In addition, the youngsters got to interact with students involved with the Cougar Tutors organization and the Cougar Literacy Corps-AmeriCorps program. The Cougar Tutors, who serve as tutors and mentors at Yates and Sterling throughout the year, helped create and facilitate the activities during the campus visit 鈥� explaining the science behind slime and helping make the subject fun.
Mia Bradford, a senior manager of college readiness in the Houston Independent School District, said she was pleased to partner with on the campus visits because research shows it鈥檚 important to talk to students early about college and careers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 too late in 12th grade,鈥� she said.
She also praised the uniqueness of this campus experience, which included hands-on projects and interactions with faculty, staff and students, instead of only a walking tour and information session.
鈥淥ne of the best methods of learning is through exposure and experience,鈥� Bradford said. 鈥淭his was an experience 鈥� something that will be remembered 鈥� rather than people talking at you.鈥�
Xavier Malveaux, a junior from Sterling, and Kazsia Cosey, a junior from Yates, said they enjoyed the scavenger hunt 鈥� running around campus and getting information about important topics like financial aid and how Advanced Placement credit works in college.
Both students recalled visiting their first college campus in seventh grade and said they were glad was arranging for students in elementary school to get the same chance.
鈥淣ow even minimum wage jobs, it鈥檚 getting to the point you need a college degree,鈥� Cosey said.
Sarah Fard, program director for the ACES Institute, said she hopes the campus visits become an annual experience.
鈥淲e had a blast putting these events together and watching the students engage with students, faculty and staff,鈥� Fard said. 鈥淲e also want the youth in our community to know that we are always here for them as they consider their future educational and career goals. These last two days were just the start!鈥�
鈥揚hotos by Kathy Patnaude and Jaime Questell