Two high school students from the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy traveled to Charlotte for the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) conference where they did a poster presentation on their research on how intersections of social location such as race, class, gender and sexuality can produce barriers to and opportunities for college access.
Mariam Lopez-Rosales (Cummings High School junior) and Vidal Morales-Santos (Graham High School junior) were accompanied by ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ junior Molly O’Brien, an anthropology and creative writing major, and Darris Means, associate director of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy. Their presentation, “Findings in a Participatory Research Project on the College Barriers and Opportunities for Underserved High School Students,” revealed the results of a yearlong research project.
The two students, along with 11 other scholars in the Academy, worked on the project with Mary Alice Scott, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy research associate throughout the 2010-2011 academic year. The research project culminated in the publication of a book and photovoice art exhibit, Speaking Out: Underrepresented Students Challenging the Inequities of College Access.
Launched by ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ in 2007, the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy is a college access and success program for academically-promising high school students with a financial need and/or no family history of college. It combines a month-long residential program over three successive summers with follow-up experiences during the academic year. ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy staff work closely with advocates from all six high schools, River Mill Public Charter School, as well as Alamance-Burlington School System staff to identify, select, and support these bright, highly motivated, local students who dream of a college education. Support for students continues through their college graduation.