Fine and applied arts Professor George Kokis demonstrates how to throw clay to middle school students Saturday for ‘Reach for Success,’ sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
About 150 middle school students took over the University campus Saturday to participate in the 13th annual “Reach for Success” visitation day for young students of color.
Since 1988, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, in conjunction with the Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Retention Programs, has invited middle school students of color, their family members, teachers and counselors to the University to get a peek at college life and learn about the possibilities of higher education.
“I believe it is the only program of its kind in the state, sponsored by a university, that focuses on middle school students of color and encourages them to think about college in such a wide, broad-based way,” said Randy Choy, assistant director of OMA and event coordinator.
The program is designed to start the process of preparing students for college early so that they see it can be a realistic option after high school.
A total of about 300 people, including middle school students, their families and teachers, University volunteers and staff filled the EMU Ballroom Saturday morning to kick off the day’s events. After opening comments and welcomes by OMA director Carla Gary and University President Dave Frohnmayer, the University Gospel Ensemble performed.
The students then separated into different teams with duck-themed names and spread out to different buildings on campus. Each team had two or three University students as leaders who guided them to different workshops and “mini classes.”
University professors and students volunteered their afternoons to present on a variety of subjects including science, law, dance and foreign languages.
“It gives me a lot of satisfaction to see so many UO students giving up a whole Saturday — during midterms — to help us help these kids,” Choy said.
About 60 University students volunteered to help guide and keep track of the students.
Aisha Luvert sophomore majoring in biochemistry, was a team leader of the “Soaring Ducks.”
When Luvert was in middle school she attended Reach and though it was not the deciding factor in her decision to attend college, it was important for her to have a day to visit a college campus and see students of color who were succeeding and acting as campus leaders, she said.
Valerie García, a sixth grader from Woodburn, was on Luvert’s team. They attended classes on international cultures, law and chemistry.
“I liked the chemistry best because they made goop and turned a pickle into light,” García said.
García said before “Reach for Success” she was already thinking about college but it was a good field trip for her. She also enjoyed the presentation on law because she is planning to be a lawyer one day, she said.
Counselors and teachers also appreciate their students having the opportunity to see what college has to offer. Dapo Sobomehin works as a counselor and social studies teacher at Whiteaker Middle School in Portland and said the program is beneficial to his students because “it is the little things that stay in their heads.
“It exposes kids to higher education, brings different communities together,” Sobomehin said. “The setting is fabulous. The kids can mingle.”
While the students attended classes, their relatives, counselors and teachers attended workshops about financial aid and how to help a child succeed in school. Many of the workshops were also available in Spanish.
After classes and workshops, participants returned to the ballroom to fill out evaluations and watch the closing dance performance. Four Eugene students from Kennedy danced to “Suavamente,” by Elvis Crespo and invited everyone to dance together to close the day’s events.
The dancers are part of another University-sponsored program for middle school students, Ganas, in which University students from MEChA tutor Chicano and Latino students.
One dancer, Joanne Mendoza, a seventh grader, said, “Usually in the sixth or seventh grade, you usually don’t think about college.”
Mendoza said the University-sponsored events, such as Ganas, Reach and Edward James Olmos’ recent visit, have together sharpened her vision of the future.
She also noted there is a good possibility she will attend the University to study science with the goal of becoming a doctor.
“My vision of college is more clear than before,” she said. “I can now see myself in college.”