Program entices Shaw students to go on to college

A group of Shaw Middle School eighth graders visited the University yesterday to catch a glimpse of what their futures may hold. The University, in conjunction with Shaw, has developed a program designed to expose students to college and job opportunities. The students, who are currently enrolled in educational and career development programs at the Shaw Middle School, are matched up with 21 University faculty and staff members. Bonnie Ragsdale, an assistant in the Office of the Executive Vice President, said the Shaw students come to the University once a month in order to participate in the program. "First, we have a one-hour group learning session about setting goals," Ragsdale said. "Then they go on campus for two hours in a one-on-one situation with their mentors. "This is the 13-year olds' last year at Shaw," Ragsdale added. "We're trying to make an impact on them before they enter high school." The program, which began last year, met for the first time this year in November but was cancelled in December due to the weather. Alisha Soslow , the University liaison to Shaw Middle School, said 21 eighth-grade students from the career program came to the University last year. "The students focused on career education, especially health careers," she said. Soslow added that the students who visited yesterday were very enthusiastic about the program. "I think that it's a huge success," Soslow said. "I wish more staff members would sign up for this so we could expand it." Soslow said the students become more intrigued by the University each time they visit. "There are so many staff members at the University and the opportunities are endless," Soslow explained. Bringing students to the University motivates them and affects the way that they view education, Soslow said. According to Soslow, the students fill out profiles at the beginning of the program and identify possible career interests. "Many of the students want to be pediatricians, and some of them want to be lawyers," Soslow said. She added that having a mentor in the workplace opens the students' eyes to career opportunities. She also said that the adults act as positive role models for the students. As for the students' immediate futures, the eighth graders will find themselves in different places next year. "Although the students are supposed to go to West Philadelphia High School next year, many of them don't deem West Philadelphia High School as academically challenging," Soslow said, adding that many will instead chose to attend private high schools. University spokesperson Barbara Beck met with Shaw eighth-grader Carl Henderson. "We talked about guidelines for achieving goals," Beck said. "We also went to my office and worked on programming for the 50th anniversary of ENIAC." Beck said that she thinks that the program has been very successful. "I did this last year and it was incredibly satisfying for me," she added. Van Pelt Library staff member Rachelle Nelson met with eighth-grader Latasha Phillips. "We visited the Afro-American seminar room in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library and spent time discussing her goals," she said. "The students are more open now than when we first met," Nelson added. "They are ready with hands raised to volunteer information."