The Saint Louis Science Center’s Youth Exploring Science program recently hosted its graduation ceremony for teens who are going into higher education throughout the St. Louis area.
The ceremony was filled with family and friends of the 36 graduates. A slideshow of the graduates and where they will be attending college was shown. After the ceremony, all the graduates received a free laptop for their dedication in completing the program.
“I see the development of what they’ve learned, and that will carry with them to college,” said Hattie Jackson, a member of the Science Center’s Board of Trustees.
“The passion and commitment of this program – it’s exciting to see all the students when they’ve completed.”
The Youth Exploring Science (YES) program furthers the Science Center’s mission “to stimulate interest in and understanding of science and technology throughout the community.” The program works with 250 underserved teenagers throughout the course of their high school career, providing them with an inquiry-based learning environment that focuses on science, mathematics and technology – critical areas where minorities are chronically underrepresented.
“As a YES teen, they get hands-on activity, and the students come back and become role models and influence younger ones,” Jackson said.
Steven Jamerson proves her point – and he has only just begin the program.
“I like working with kids,” said Jamerson, who has three more years before he finishes the YES program. He already is engaged helping youth of all ages doing science projects and experiments.
YES teens are recruited from over 20 partnered community-based organizations that are committed to serving low-income families throughout the St. Louis area. Participants in YES gain professional, academic and real-world skills that assist in building self-confidence and personal success. They interact directly with organizations and community partners to help facilitate science events and activities.
A supervisor for the program, Colin Nelson is an alumnus of YES, having graduated in 2008. At the recent ceremony, Nelson sang the song “I Believe I Can Fly” to encourage the students who were graduating.
“I like helping the young men. I’m like an uncle to them,” Nelson said.
“The program is fun. You make a lot of friends and mentors. A lot of black teens don’t get things like this.”
Nelson was Jamersons supervisor during the youth’s first year in the program.
“He made us feel welcome. He played a big brother role,” Jamerson said of Nelson.
The YES program admits a new cohort of teens every February. These teens are nominated through community partners for admission into the program. The teens must have established an ongoing relationship with their referring community partner before being nominated for admission.
Teens must be 14 years of age by June 1 of their admission year. Teens who are not nominated by a community partner can apply to be put on a waiting list on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, visit http://www.youthexploringscience.com/.
