ACADEMICS
"They Set Us Up for Success"
Nazareth's Young Scholars program brings to campus high-achieving students from urban schools
by Joanie Eppinga
Incoming freshman Michaela Jarvis '20 during the Young Scholars summer experience
鈥淚t鈥檚 so quiet here!鈥 said Janee Greenidge '19, a legal studies major, when she arrived at Nazareth last year. For Greenidge and other students in the College鈥檚 Young Scholars Program, transitioning from the inner city to a small, tree-filled campus can be surprising鈥攂ut usually in a good way.
The Young Scholars Program, begun in 2014, recruits academically talented students from high-achieving secondary schools in metropolitan areas. Ongoing relationships with teachers, administrators, and parents help convey the value of an academic, social, and cultural experience at Nazareth. The students, who tend to focus on science, math, or business-related majors, receive financial, emotional, and practical support.
Gabriel Marshall, director of the program, explains that Young Scholars receive two unique summer experiences, one assisting with the transition from high school to college and one, which includes internships or work assignments, focused on personal and professional development.
鈥淭hey showed us around the school and gave us classes in decision making and time management, so I felt like I got to adjust to college before I even started,鈥 says Greenidge. Jessy Dwyer '18, an accounting major from Brooklyn who is in his junior year, agrees. 鈥淩ight from the beginning,鈥 he notes, 鈥渢hey set us up for success鈥攎ade sure we were a part of the campus. And they let us know we had a good reputation to uphold.鈥
Support coupled with high expectations is the foundation of the program, according to Marshall.
鈥淲e push the students,鈥 he says. 鈥淏ut every one of them has a counselor. We offer activities and workshops throughout the year. We鈥檙e starting mentoring programs using faculty, administrators, and peers. And when they graduate, we鈥檒l still be here for them.鈥
Why so much support? 鈥淲e want to change their futures,鈥 Marshall says. 鈥淭hey benefit from leadership studies, internships, and mentoring early in their college careers.鈥
The Young Scholars aren鈥檛 the only ones who benefit, Marshall notes, because they tend to bring a trailblazing mentality that inspires their classmates. 鈥淭hey understand leadership and want to be leaders,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking at the big picture.鈥
In addition to leadership, the Scholars bring a new perspective. 鈥淢ost of us are African American or Latino,鈥 says Greenidge, 鈥渟o our presence gives this predominantly white campus more openness to our cultures.鈥 Marshall agrees: 鈥淭he Scholars have been intentional in getting to know people outside their comfort zone and telling their stories, and Naz students have been so receptive to hearing them.鈥 Greenidge says of the students鈥 interaction, 鈥淚t brings people together.鈥
Building connections, both on and off campus, is the most important aspect of the program, according to Dwyer. 鈥淵ou learn to network, and networking can get you far in life,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 opened up doors for me.鈥
One of those doors offered Dwyer access to a competitive fellowship sponsored by JP Morgan Chase; the firm intends to hire him after he graduates. Excited about attending career-oriented training sessions in Dallas and Chicago, Dwyer says he鈥檚 also eager to build upon the personal growth he鈥檚 made as a Young Scholar at Nazareth.
鈥淏eing here has been a great adjustment that has improved me as a person,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to see who I am in the future!鈥
Joanie Eppinga is a freelance writer and editor in Spokane, Washington.
Young Scholars
