Special to The American
Jalen Scott and Nicholas Bolden of Hazelwood East High School are two seniors who are on the move. Both of them have taken steps toward future goals due to their participation in GEAR UP, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.
Scott spent five days in Washington, D.C. as one of 30 students selected to attend the 8th Annual National Council for Community and Education Partnerships Youth Leadership Summit. Students were selected by a competitive application process based on academic achievement, leadership experience, an essay and letters of recommendation. He was nominated to attend the conference by Sharon Anhalt, GEAR UP coordinator at Hazelwood East High School.
Bolden had an equally impressive summer experience. He went to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. While there, he went through intense physical training each day, learning cadences and drills. He took classes in physics and chemical engineering and learned to drive boats.
Afterward going to the USNA, he spent three weeks at Stanford University in California studying Advanced Placement Macroeconomics and earning college credit through the Junior State of America. Founded in 1934, JSA involves high school students who are interested in politics, government, foreign affairs, law and education.
He took macroeconomics because “it was the only math class offered through the program.”
During the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships summit, Scott said, the youth were responsible for “collaborating ideas to present to administrators regarding issues in schools and the education system.”
“This conference was different than other summer programs because it had more feeling and emotion,” said Scott.
“I think this experience will help me when I’m tutoring kids or volunteering for community service. I’ll be more focused on being helpful and being sincere.”
Scott wants to go into medicine and is considering engineering as a minor.
His interest in medicine provided an opportunity for him to experience a summer program offered by Saint Louis University School of Medicine. For nearly three weeks before going to Washington, D.C., Scott learned more than he could imagine about medical training.
“I learned to do sutures, but not on an actual body. We got to use expensive equipment that medical students use. There was a robot that is very much like a human. It could breathe, cry and bleed,” Scott explained.
Through the program, he learned cardiopulmonary resuscitation from the American Red Cross, and wrote a research paper on cerebral palsy. “I’m interested in the brain and how it works. I knew that cerebral palsy was a disease that affects the brain.”
As Scott makes a decision about college, he is interested Washington University in St. Louis and Ohio State University.
For Bolden, the experience at Stanford was challenging. Class sessions were held twice a day, Monday through Saturday, with Sunday being a study day.
“They didn’t baby us at all. We were in college. We had mid-terms, finals and we had to write a 10 to 15 page term paper,” Bolden said.
“We had congressional workshops, we had a debate every day and we had to be articulate, and we listened to a range of political speakers.”
The tuition was $4,500, not including airfare. He was awarded a partial scholarship, and many others stepped in to help. He received support from an aunt and family friends, as well as teachers, coaches, counselors and the Parent-Teacher Student Association from Hazelwood East High.
Bolden was impressed with Stanford, particularly with the diversity. “It was the most diverse group of people I have ever experienced.” He said there were 180 students in the program and he met students of Iranian, Jamaican, Chinese and American Samoan descent.
In a thank you letter to his supporters, Bolden wrote “This program, that was only possible by your contributions, was the best experience I have ever had. It left me more enlightened, in tears when I was leaving, and with lifelong friends.”
Bolden’s future career plans involve engineering or accounting. He is researching the possibility of attending Stanford, USNA, Brown University and Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Scott and Bolden are actively involved in school through the Missouri A+ Schools Program, as members of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and a reading program called PRIME that serves students at Hazelwood East Middle School.
Scott plays soccer and runs track. He is a member of the National Honor Society, plays in jazz band, as well as his church band.
Bolden is a wrestler, a member of National Society of Black Engineers and is planning to start a JSA chapter at school.
U. City college fair
University City High School will host a college fair through the Missouri Association of College Admission Counseling on Monday, Sept. 20
from 6:30-8 p.m. in the UCHS gymnasium at 7401 Balson Ave. in
University City.
More than 70 colleges from 11 states will have representatives at the fair. The college fair attracts about 400 students and parents each year. No
pre-registration is required.
Students or parents with questions regarding the college fair may contact Katherine Bailey at 314-290-4111 or kabailey@u-city.k12.mo.us.
