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OSSE Scholars Summer Enrichment Program

May 2013

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What is the OSSE Scholars Program?

In the spring of 2012, OSSE Superintendent Hosanna Mahaley challenged us to create a program for high achieving, motivated, low-income students in the District of Columbia. She wanted to ensure that they were rewarded for their hard work and received the same opportunities as their peers across the country.

From that challenge, the OSSE Scholars Program was established. OSSE commits to recruiting, interviewing and selecting promising students from public and charter high schools in the District to attend these programs and provides full tuition and transportation to and from the university. Students are also chaperoned to make certain what is usually their first flight or train ride goes smoothly.

During the summer of 2012, OSSE sent 14 students to 4 partner university programs. In 2013, the program expanded to 48 students at 12 partner university programs.

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How OSSE Scholars Are Selected

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Students interested in being considered for the OSSE Scholars Program must complete an online application at http://osse.dc.gov/page/osses-scholars. Students must be recommended by a teacher, counselor or academic advisor and should have a 3.0 GPA.

Once students apply and meet the above criteria, they are interviewed by OSSE staff. OSSE is looking for students who take rigorous classes, are involved in their community and excited about furthering their education. Most importantly though, OSSE is looking for mature and motivated students who demonstrate they are able to handle the pressure of these types of programs. OSSE evaluates the academic, social and mental well-being of students before committing to providing them with a scholarship.

Once they are fully screened and accepted by OSSE, they apply directly to a single school program. This allows partner universities to feel comfortable that students have been fully screened. OSSE matches students with their partner programs based on the interview and the student’s academic background.

OSSE places the highest level of importance in ensuring students are prepared for summer academic programs. We are not in the business of having any student fail.

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Preparing OSSE Scholars for College

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In addition to giving students experience with college academics and environments, so that they will be better prepared as undergraduates, OSSE Scholars seeks to broaden students’ exposure to selective college admissions.

OSSE Scholars’ support once students are accepted include:Summer program application assistanceParent orientation sessionsPeer orientation led by previous ScholarsScholar Alumni NetworkSelective College Fair (planned for Fall 2014)Standardized testing prep (planned for Fall 2014)

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Student Profile

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While OSSE looks for students that are academically motivated, having a particular GPA or standardized test scores are not as important to us as selecting students that are not only ready to handle the pressure that comes from these programs, but are also likely to take full advantage of the opportunity. We ask that students who apply have at least a 3.0 GPA. However, that is generally only used as a screening measure and we have accepted students who had less than a 3.0. In 2013, the OSSE Scholars applicant pool included:

231 applications received

231 students interviewed

56 students selected

48 students attending

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2013 Student Profile

Average GPA of accepted Scholars 3.55

Students who reside in Ward 7 or 8 52%

Student athletes 36%

Participating juniors 67%

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Partner Universities

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Jamara

*

University Program: Boston UniversityTopics Studied: Abnormal Psychology and Law

High School: Maya Angelou Public Charter SchoolGrade (current): 12thGPA: 3.5Post High School Plans: Trinity University (full merit scholarship) or North Carolina A&T

Take Away from Program: I learned to network with other people and what that means – something that is very important in DC. My classes were great and I liked the balance between social and academic. My advice to future students - open up and get to know other people regardless of their background. Everyone has something important to offer. And of course, have fun!

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Daniel

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University Program: Carnegie Mellon (2012), Stanford University (2013)Topics Studied: SAMS – Engineering, Science and Math, Stanford-Electrical Engineering and Intro to International Relations

High School: Friendship Collegiate AcademyGrade (current): 11thGPA: 4.0

Take Away from Program: Don’t be shy! Take advantage of how new people can surround you and become like family.

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University Program: Boston University Topics Studied: Economics and Nutrition

High School: Columbia Heights Educational Campus - BellGrade (current): 12thGPA: 4.0Post High School Plans: Will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a POSSE Scholar.

Take Away from Program: That it is okay to be different - does not always feel that way in DC. I haven’t spent a lot of time outside of the DMV so was good to be exposed to different attitudes/personalities. I really liked that there was no one else from DC there.

Rodrigo

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Students recruited from the following schools:

Public: Charter:

Anacostia Senior High School Booker T. Washington Public Charter SchoolBanneker Senior High School Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public PolicyBallou Senior High School Friendship Collegiate AcademyCardozo Senior High School Hospitality High SchoolColumbia Heights Educational Campus (Bell) KIPP DC College Preparatory Coolidge Senior High School Maya Angelou Public Charter SchoolDunbar Senior High School Thurgood Marshall AcademyEastern Senior High School Washington Latin Public Charter SchoolPhelps Architecture, Construction and Washington Math, Science and Technology Public Charter SchoolEngineering High SchoolRoosevelt Senior High SchoolSpingarn Senior High SchoolWoodson Senior High School

OSSE Scholars 2012-2013 Program

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