During the week of Feb. 18, UR hosted the Rochester Scholars Program, where middle and high school students had the opportunity to take one of 14 classes over their February school break. Middle-school students chose between three full-day courses, while high school students were able to take one or two half-day courses. High school students had more class options, ranging from digital art to biological research.
Public Relations and Marketing Manager of the Office of Special Programs and Part-time Studies Natalie Yager said the course “What’s Up Doc?” is always popular.
“The students are able to learn what med school is like. They also get to do fun activities, like casting and splinting,” Yager said.
Yager said that the “CSI” courses are also very popular.
“It is a fun environment and the curriculum is very hands-on,” Yager said. “The kids do not need to be intimidated by homework, grades or tests.”
This may be why students continue to come back to multiple sessions per year, year after year.
“We have two students in the program who met through the program in middle school,” Yager said. “They became friends and are now sophomores in high school and have gone every year since they were in seventh or eighth grade.”
Kevin Grant, a sophomore from Webster Thomas High School, took “Sims Business.”
“I never realized just how many factors there were in running a business,” Grant said.
The program also has a lot of diversity among its students, which helps UR reach out on an international level. “Last summer, we had over 10 states represented and three countries. It really gets our university out there,” Yager said.
The next session will be taking place from April 14-18.
Wisch is a member of the class of 2011.
