Houston, TX July 5, 2004

Summer Institute for Students offers Exploration into Medical Careers

Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston
Tel. 832-325-0301 Cell 713-253-6953
mcarroll@projectgradhouston.org

On Friday, July 2, 2004, 91 Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) students were recognized at an awards luncheon for completing the Health Science Summer Institute at the Houston Community College System Coleman Health Science Center.

Project GRAD Students Roberto Erazo and Jessica Herrera, rising sophomores at Reagan High School, receive recognition at an awards ceremony for participating in the Health Science Summer Institute at Houston Community College System Coleman Science Center. The month-long program for Project GRAD high school students provides an in-depth opportunity to explore careers in the medical profession. This is one of two summer institutes the students must participate as part of the requirements to receive a $4,000 Project GRAD Scholarship to college.

The month-long program for Project GRAD high school students provides an in-depth opportunity to explore a variety of careers in the medical profession ranging from surgical technology, nurse, lab assistant, pharmacy technician to occupational therapy assistant. Students have the opportunity to learn cutting-edge information and technology in the health field, CPR, and receive exposure to medical terminology and college math.

“The students discover strengths, learning styles, career options, CPR, an introduction to the language of health science, and a better understanding of how math is used in health careers,” says Ann Stiles, Senior Director of Academic Programs, Project GRAD Houston. “The awards ceremony is a special occasion for the high school students to honor them for making an important decision in their future by deciding to participate in the 4-week summer enrichment program, one of two summer institutes they must complete in order to qualify for the Project GRAD Scholarship Program.”

“The Project GRAD Scholarship Program encouraged me to think about college during my freshman year of high school even though graduation seemed so far away,” says Ashley Cook, a rising senior at Wheatley High School. “As a Project GRAD Scholar participant in the Health Science Summer Institute I had the opportunity to take a field trip to the Methodist Hospital Surgery Suite and talk to health care professionals in different health fields,” says Cook. “After talking with the different health care professionals, I decided I want to be an anesthesiologist.”

Cook along with Pablo Alvarez, a rising senior at Sam Houston High School, received the Most Outstanding Student Award for consistency in performance at the 2004 Health Science Summer Institute.

The Houston Community College John B. Coleman Health Science Academy is one of twelve summer institutes offered to Project GRAD Houston high school students. In 2004, a total of 1,922 Project GRAD Houston students participated in Summer Institutes.

“Project GRAD Houston students can choose from a variety of summer institutes at Baylor University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University, Houston Community College, Rice University, Texas Southern University, University of Houston Central and Downtown, The University of Texas Health Science Center in the Texas Medical Center at Houston, and the University of St. Thomas,” says Charla Stuart, Director of Scholarships, Project GRAD Houston. “At the completion of the non-residential programs students receive a $150 check as an incentive which is especially important for economically-challenged students who must work in addition to attending the summer institute,” says Stuart.

“The summer institutes provide enrichment programs and an opportunity for Project GRAD students to experience a college campus and see themselves on a college campus,” says Stiles.

For more information about the Project GRAD Summer Institutes, please contact:

• Charla Stuart, Director of Scholarships
  Project GRAD Houston (832) 325-0330
• Ann Stiles, Senior Director of Academic Programs
  Project GRAD Houston (832) 325-0467
• Dr. Norma Perez, Dean of Health Science
  at the Houston Community College System Coleman Health Science Center
  (713) 718-7400
• Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
  Project GRAD Houston (832) 325-0301.

Project GRAD serves over 133,000 students in 217 schools nationwide – over 48,000 in 71 Houston schools. The program works with Houston’s most economically disadvantaged schools with landmark results. In Davis High School, the first school in the program, Project GRAD has increased graduation rates by 77%, more than tripled college attendance, and achieved a 51 % college graduation rate for Hispanic students – doubling the national average of 26 percent.
Project GRAD addresses the obstacles to student success at school and home. It combines proven curricula, teacher training, community and parent involvement, scholarships, and ongoing program support, with the goals of increasing high school graduation rates to more than 50 percent.