Dropout Rate Declines To New Low

July 28, 1997

For Immediate Release

(Briggs)

RE: STUDENTS MAKING SUMMER DISCOVERIES AT SCRIPPS

High School Students and Teachers Participate in Summer Internships

at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI)

Scientists are discovering the molecular structures of proteins, genetically engineering plants, and designing the next generation of "miracle" drugs. And some of them aren't out of high school yet. It's all happening at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), which, in cooperation with schools throughout San Diego County, is helping to prepare future researchers, including students and teachers.

TSRI's Summer Apprenticeship Program for K-12 teachers and high school students develops within participants an appreciation for the scientific process while providing instruction on scientific research techniques through an intensive hands-on research laboratory experience. The eight-week long Institute, which ends Aug. 15, places both students and teachers side-by-side with working scientists in laboratory scientific discovery.

Much of San Diego's economic strength is based on innovations in the bioscience and high-tech industries. Future success will be dependent upon the scientific skills of the next generation of researchers. Reflecting on her experience, one student participant, Kimberly Tinsley, said, "Research goes hand in hand with redo, retry, recalculate, rethink, etc. It takes patience, discipline, belief in the relevance of what you're doing..."

The summer internship program is designed to attract students underrepresented in the sciences and teachers who are themselves underrepresented minorities or who teach in schools whose student population has a high percentage of minorities. The program provides laboratory research experiences and updates participants on contemporary issues in molecular biology, cell biology, vascular biology, immunology, neurosciences and chemistry. Says student participant Brenda McGhee, "Not only have I learned how to use lab equipment and perform experiments, I've also learned about the important role RAS proteins play in cancer development." Moreover, the program introduces students to the world of work, and provides important information on job skills and career paths.

Students are selected for the program on the basis of academic standing, extracurricular activities, leadership qualities, work experience, teacher recommendations, standardized test scores and personal interviews. Students are assigned to faculty mentors who design and closely supervise their research experience during the eight-week period. The faculty member assigns the student a research project, provides instruction on research techniques and provides access to reagents and equipment.

Each student is considered a part of the research team and is given responsibilities commensurate with ability, scholastic aptitude, maturity and previous experience. In addition to the actual conduct of the research, other activities include research planning, library research, data analysis, and, where appropriate, the publication process.

Among the 39 student and 5 teacher participants, there are 18 students and three teachers representing San Diego City Schools. The student participants, including their grade level this fall and respective schools include Nancy Aguilar, junior at Morse; Theresa Brondstetter, senior at Lincoln; Jose Cisneros, senior at Hoover; Yann Deredec, senior at San Diego; Giselle Dineros, senior at Morse; Donald Gapuz, senior at Morse; Chandra Gullette, senior from Morse; Brenda McGhee, senior at SCPA; An Ngo, junior at Morse; Hoa Nguyen, senior at Lincoln; David Owens, senior at Lincoln; Georgina Perez, junior at Hoover; Evelyn Rodrigo, senior at Morse; Sofia Sandoval, junior at Hoover; John Sparks, senior at Lincoln; Kimberly Tinsley, senior at SCPA; Yerania Valencia, junior at Lincoln, and Takisha Williams, senior at University City. The district's teacher participants are Julia Baggerly, from Kearny High School; Kelli Connaughton, Bell Junior High, and Robert North, Hoover.

Other student participants and their respective schools include Irene Amaro, Rancho Bernardo High School; Alan Asbeck, Torrey Pines; Leah Barrera, Bonita Vista; Krissy Brault, Princeton; Anthony Cervantes, Hilltop; Ghassen Elmashni, UCSD; Jack Favilukis, Helix; Tress Goodwin, Rancho Bernardo; Stacey Hanekamp, Granite Hills; Liana Ho, UCSD; Levi Lewis, Mount Miguel; Karla Muñoz, Hilltop; Khanh Nguyen, UCLA; Richard Robello, San Dieguito Academy; Kenneth Shelton, El Capitan; Margaret Stambaugh, San Dieguito Academy; Avishkar Tyagi, Torrey Pines; Gisela Villalta, Mount Saint Mary's; Jennifer Warren, West Hills, and Jesse Zalatan, Torrey Pines. Additional participating teachers are teachers Dianne Guirado, El Cajon Valley High School, and Rosanna Lupien, Ramona High School.

Note: The media is welcome to photograph or film students/teachers in the laboratories at TSRI. Please contact Robin Goldsmith, TSRI's Director of Communications, at (619) 784-8134.