Terra magazine explores "a world of research and creativity at Oregon State University" -- precisely what Precollege Programs academic summer camps encourage. Terra recently dedicated an article to a sampling of the multitude of opportunities OSU offers for all ages, including a detailed look at the impact Skip Rochefort, director of Precollege Programs, has had on students through his many outreach programs. (Be sure to click on the Up Close side bars for additional stories.)
Curious students from Sweet Home Junior High were at OSU's campus for a week of activities related to ocean sciences as well as preparing for college. The free camp was made possible by a GEAR UP grant written jointly by the director of Saturday Academy, Cori Hall, and assistant director of Precollege Programs, Kyle Cole.
"I also wanted to let you know that we all agree it was the BEST OSU visit ever! Thank you for everything!" -- Siletz Valley Early College Academy Teacher
"We had a BLAST!!! I think the kids will be talking about this for a long time. Teachers are already talking about doing it next year. Thanks to your team for being so flexible and making this a great day." -- Seven Oak Middle School 7th Grade TeacherWant to get involved with middle schoolers as a student or faculty? Want to bring your class or school to OSU? Contact Dana Beck for more details.
The Newspaper Institute for Minority High School Students pairs budding journalists of color with writers, reporters and editors from The Oregonian on Oregon State's campus. By the time the camp is finished the students will have produced both a print and online newspaper covering a range of topics. The camp is overseen by Kami Hammerschmith, assistant director of Student Media at OSU. Look out for the finished product!
Two invaluable and long-running Precollege Programs staff members retired recently: Frank Ragulsky, director of Student Media, and Ellen Ford, coordinator in the office of Precollege Programs.
Frank was responsible for bringing over 250 high school students to campus during the summer for yearbook and newspaper workshops, as well as spearheaded efforts to start the Newspaper Institute for Minority High School Students in partnership with The Oregonian. During a celebration of his time and efforts at a Precollege Programs meeting, Frank commented that "working with youth brings us together, reaching across departments. Of my many years at OSU, the most satisfaction I have received is bringing high school kids to campus."
Ellen, long-time director of Saturday Academy at OSU, came out of her first retirement in 2005 to run the office of Precollege Programs with director Skip Rochefort, ostensibly only working 10 hours a week. Her tireless efforts and vast network of connections strengthened the unity of precollege programs at OSU and took on projects such as the Middle School Visits program and personally corresponding with elementary classrooms throughout the U.S., spreading Beaver pride and her love of OSU baseball and basketball.
Many thanks to Frank & Ellen for their many years of outreach service at OSU!
The Chintimini Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation awarded a $6500 grant to the OSU Talented & Gifted summer camps for tuition and transportation assistance for high achieving students in Benton, Lane, Linn, Lincoln and Tillamook counties. Expeditions (grades 3-4), Adventures in Learning (5-6) and Outside the Box (7-8) all provide a 2-week enrichment experience with unique and challenging games and activities for TAG students. Josefine Fleetwood, coordinator for Outside the Box, secured the grant with donated help from Jeri Alcock, a professional grant writer from Oncourse Consulting.
Mario Magaña, 4-H Regional Extension Educator and creator and director of the Latino Summer Camps, was recently profiled in LIFE@OSU and prominently featured on the home page of the Oregon State University website.
OSU's precollege summer programs have something for everyone: grades K-12 have educational and recreational choices that include science, sports, visual arts, engineering, journalism, math and much more. The OSU for Youth brochure has the details. Sign up today!
Irresistible photos of first graders from Cielo Vista Elementary in California decked out in orange and black holding OSU signs have been circulating around the OSU news circuit. One of four classrooms adopted by Precollege Programs coordinator Ellen Ford, the photos and letters sent to her became an instant sensation: they were featured in the OSU Admissions blog on February 24 and the centerfold of the March 19 issue of OSU Today.
Since the publication of these articles, several alumni have contacted Ford, expressing their excitement about seeing the young students that have been infected with "Beaver spirit".
The Saturday Academy program, "An Inside Look at Veterinary School", taught and developed
by Dr. Kristin Patton, a veterinary pathologist from the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at OSU,
was so popular there was a waiting list for open spots.
"Forty aspiring middle and high school veterinarians had a unique opportunity: students helped with a medical exam on a patient at OSU's veterinary hospital, toured the labs, watched a video clip of a surgery, and took a dog into the newly completed canine rehabilitation facility for hydrotherapy," says Cori Hall, director of Saturday Academy at OSU.
The hands-on component, characteristic of Saturday Academy classes, made the biggest impression. "The mood of the class changed once the dogs arrived. The kids were so much more open to talk and interact," says Hall.
Dr. Patton's efforts at educating younger students about careers in veterinary medicine was featured by Capital Press and picked up by OSU Today.
What do giant squids and college essay writing have in common? Both topics will come together at the GEAR UP Ocean Science Camp this summer as 25 7th graders from Sweet Home, OR will descend on campus to learn about beaches, waves, and sea creatures as well as take part in college planning sessions, at no cost to the students. Through the efforts of Kyle Cole, assistant director of Precollege Programs, and Cori Hall, director of Saturday Academy, the GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) committee chose to fund a grant completely supporting a brand-new program for students from the rural community of Sweet Home. "I think this is going to be a really worthwhile camp and draws together several OSU outreach programs including Saturday Academy, SMILE, the cultural centers and Hatfield MSC. It’s a good step in making PCP an effective outreach hub on campus," says Cole. Currently in the planning stages, be on the lookout for budding Jacques Cousteau's this summer.
OSU's Precollege Programs Office has a new home! With the addition of assistant director Kyle Cole and full-time coordinator Dana Beck, Precollege Programs has expanded into the office suite at 350 Batcheller Hall, courtesy of the College of Engineering. They join the invaluable Ellen Ford, part-time coordinator, and Skip Rochefort, director, in assisting several of the various K-12 Outreach programs at OSU and spearheading new efforts to bring cohesiveness and support to all programs. Come visit the new PCP office (tea and Trader Joe's® treats provided) and welcome our new staff additions anytime!
Got Precollege Programs news to share? E-mail Dana Beck