Heights High's Early College students present research at JCU

Height High sophomore Davon Beane' with his research presentation at the JCU Celebration of Scholarship.

John Carroll University’s (JCU) April 3 Celebration of Scholarship presenters included 17 Heights High Early College sophomores, along with nearly 100 JCU undergraduates, graduate students and faculty.

Last November, Heights High’s Early College students selected research topics and spent more than four months working with a mentor to refine research questions, conduct research at the JCU library, and independently prepare a poster and short verbal presentation. The project assignment was in addition to their regular class load of accelerated courses in four content areas.

The Gateway or Capstone project is one of the qualifying requirements for sophomore students to complete, to be eligible to enroll in JCU for their junior year of high school. The other requirements are demonstrating mastery in four core subject areas and receiving a faculty recommendation.

This school year, 21 Heights High juniors and seniors are enrolled in JCU courses, earning both college and high school credit, at no cost to the student. Two Early College teachers serve as the Gateway project coordinators this year—Karl Neitzel and Bridget Lambright. 

“The growth that we see in these four month is amazing,” said Neitzel. “The students start out with a general topic and they end up presenting a complex idea in a college setting. They work very hard and have such a feeling of accomplishment when it is completed.”

The Early College Program is in its fourth year of operation, and there are four teachers in the program.

Some of the students who completed the program and graduated from Heights High are currently enrolled at Case Western Reserve University, Bowling Green University, Ursuline College and Florida Memorial University, and many chose to complete their college career at JCU.

“We provide the support and structure for students to rise to the occasion and unlock their potential,” said Early College Principal Alisa McKinnie. “They develop skills and the confidence to attend and thrive in college.”

The 2017 Gateway Project students, and their respective research topics, are:

Kylie Armstead, Bullying and Biracial Students; Davon Beane’, Race and Academic Achievement in a Suburban School District; Derek Black, Music as Therapy; Aleysia Brooks, The Correlation Between a Student’s Learning Style and the Most Effective Memorization Strategies; Jasha Brown, Effects of Teen Depression on Social and Academic Functioning; Italie Demore, Anti-Texting Advertisements and Teen Drivers; Treasure Eiland, Student Perceptions on How AP Classes Impact Their Level of College Readiness; Xanayla Harris, Mental Health Awareness Among High School Students; Trevion Johnson, Academic Induced Stress in High School Students; Ryan Penson, Efforts to Deter Substance Abuse in Schools; Tommy Pierce Jr., Sleep Deficiency & Academic Success; T’Jhanay Potts-Avery, Domestic Violence and Teens; Folakemi Sampson, Student Perceptions of Parent Involvement and Expectations at Heights High; Taylorr Thomas, The Correlation Between Academic Performance in Student-Athletes vs. Non-Athletes; Hailyn Williams, The Growing Rate of Obesity in Millennials; Malik Winfield, Music Involvement and GPA; Miranda Wyse, Gender Identity and Mental Illness: Behind the Minds of the Transgender Community.

Joy Henderson

Joy Henderson is the parent/community liaison for Heights High.

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Volume 10, Issue 5, Posted 10:44 AM, 05.03.2017