By Malena Khan
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Three sixth-graders took part in the Baltimore City Council meeting Dec. 7 when they stood in front of the room and told everyone why they are grateful to be part of the University of Maryland CURE Scholars Program.
“The program is just not about the fun experiments that we get to do,” said Davion Hill, 11-year-old sixth-grader at Southwest Baltimore Charter School. “It’s about getting experience that will help me to succeed in the future. My favorite of the experiments that we have done so far is the lava lamp experiment. Through this experiment I learned that water is more dense than oil.”
The University of Maryland CURE Scholars program is a selective program for 40 middle and high school students from West Baltimore that allows them to get hands-on workshops, real lab experience and mentorship.
“I hope to be inspired to help someone else through this program,” said Nyah Goins, 11-year-old sixth-grader from Green Street Academy. “What I’m doing now has an impact on my entire family because of all of the hard work it takes to stay in the program. I have to do good when I get to high school and good in college too. I am testing my interests.”
Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) is for students who want to pursue a career as a biomedical researcher or a healthcare provider. These sixth-graders know exactly what they want with their future.
“The CURE program helps to motivate me to want to get my homework done and get to school on time,” said Shakeer Franklin, 12-year-old sixth-grader from Franklin Square Elementary/Middle School. “I plan on going to City High School and Morehouse College in Atlanta. I am going to graduate to be a psychotherapist.”
“This amazing program is amazing for these young men and women,” said Bernard Young, the president of the City Council. “It sparks their interest and insides them to be the best that they can be at such a young age.”