New Haven Independent

The students participate in the SCHOLAR (Science Collaborative for Hands-On Learning and Research) program, which awards top Career High School science students with the opportunity to study for free at Yale for three weeks in the summer- and to live on campus.

“It’s nice to do stuff that most kids don’t get to do,” said Stephan Cunningham, a senior.

In this picture Ali Guarino is shining an ultraviolet light on the cells and they are glowing, just like jellyfish. Experiment successful!

The SCHOLAR program began 10 years ago when Forrest Lee led a group of educators to New Orleans’ Xavier University, a leader in science education. Lee as well as magnet research teachers Rose Coggins (the new principal of Wilbur Cross High School) and Michael Curaso (current principal of Career) worked with Xavier to devise a science summer program.

It’s designed as a program that brings students back each year. Sophomores study biology, juniors study chemistry, and seniors study biotechnology and genetics, on schedule with school requirements. The students in effect have a leg up on others because they started the subject in the summer.

Field trips to laboratories and distinguished speakers are another aspect of the program.

This year there were about 70 applicants for 40 spots. The application process is rigorous, said Claudia Merson, director of public school partnerships in Yale’s Office of New Haven and State Affairs at Yale. Students are required to write two essays, send in transcripts and have recommendation letters.

Nancy Kerk, pictured with Daniel Cruz and Cunningham, teaches the seniors class. This picture depicts another experiment, testing for the presence of genetically engineered corn.

The students also got to take part in National Geographic’s Genographic Project. Students scraped the insides of their cheeks and sent the samples to National Geographic. What did they receive back? Detailed maps tracing their lineage and the migration patterns of their ancestors.

Pauline Musa, a senior, has been involved with the program for three years. She said working with the resident advisors (RAs) is one of the greatest perks.

The RAs are Yale students who sit in on the classes and help with lessons and homework but also involve themselves in the lives of the students- much like camp counselors.

“I’m enjoying it a lot,” said Elsadig Elsadig, a pre-med student from Sudan, about being an RA. “It’s more amazing than I imagined.”