WH Students Selected for Early Campus Trip

Two months ago, Penn State's Upward Bound Math and Science Program contacted Joyce Fratangelo through the Woodland Hills Project GRAD program to help it find students for its summer program. 

This is the 13th year that Penn State is offering the program and it was previously only available to students from Philadelphia, Reading and Harrisburg. This year, they wanted to expand to the Pittsburgh area. Because of the connection that PSU has with the College Access Challenge Grant, they chose Woodland Hills to be the first Pittsburgh school to be involved.  

Students are eligible for the program is they are first-generation college applicants, have specific income levels, and receive average grades in science and math.

Fratangelo spoke with all of the ninth grade classes to let them know about the opportunity. From a pool of 90 students who were initially interested in the program, 25 completed the application process, 20 made the first cut and 12 have been chosen to participate in the program.

The 12 students will leave in June and live on campus at Penn State (Main) for six weeks this summer, and for the following two summers. They will participate in cutting edge research with PSU scientists and mathematicians, attend classes in science, math, technology, languages, etiquette, study skills and more. 

They will go on college visits to other Pennsylvania college/university campuses, and attend sporting/cultural/museum events in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh—all expenses paid. 

At the completion of the summer program the balance of the allotted stipend ($1,000) will be paid to them when they return home to Woodland Hills. They will be followed through high school with monthly visits from a Penn State adviser, participate in online seminars and take an annual trip during the school year back to Penn State.

The ninth graders chosen are:

    Nicholas Madison-Pegeron (Rankin)
    Marcel McCaskill (North Braddock)
    Shawn McDonnough (Forest Hills)
    Londale Payne (Braddock)
    Jonathan Shropshire-Simpson (Turtle Creek)
    Jeffrey Tito (East Pittsburgh)
    Sierra Anderson (East Pittsburgh)
    Myasia Cherry (Braddock)
    Amber Hall (Wilkins)
    J'Vonha Moore (Swissvale)
    Mecca Nelson (Braddock)
    Kena Wilson (Rankin)

For more information about this program and the other activities and services provided by the College Access Challenge Grant Program, please contact: Joyce Fratangelo at Woodland Hills High School, 412-244-1100, x 5139.