A group of campus visitors turned a few heads when they toured the 91探花 on a sunny day back in April.
They could barely contain their excitement at Drumheller Fountain and bounded up the Grand Staircase in Suzzallo Library on their way to the Reading Room (also known as the Harry Potter room). Accompanied by teachers and plenty of parent supervision, they were required to hold hands as they walked through Red Square so as not to get lost. They wore matching t-shirts that read 鈥淐lass of 2027.鈥�
On April 21, 80 kindergartners from Meadow Ridge Elementary School visited the 91探花as a part of the Kent School District鈥檚 program. They spent the morning on campus to participate in a STEM activity and receive a tour led by 91探花students.
The event was hosted by the 91探花Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity鈥檚 (OMA&D) team in partnership with the . It was also one of several early outreach visits facilitated by OMA&D in April, May and June that brought over 2,500 students ranging from ages 5-18 to campus.
The visits were arranged in collaboration with various local school districts, community organizations and other 91探花partners with one primary purpose in mind: get young people to start thinking about college, especially those who lack access to college preparation resources.
鈥淲e are seeking to create an affinity for postsecondary education at an early age by providing exposure to our campus that is inclusive to first-generation, economically disadvantaged and underrepresented populations,鈥� said Christopher Wells, OMA&D director of community engagement and strategic initiatives.
Benefits of Early Exposure
The 91探花is one of 12 college partners of the Kinder to College program which facilitates visits for kindergartners from nearly all 28 elementary schools in the Kent School District (KSD).
According to Randy Nu帽ez, ’02, KSD college and career community/family liaison, the three goals of the program are to increase early college awareness for their youngest students, foster parent involvement and build relationships with local college partners.
Nu帽ez, who is a first-year doctoral student at the UW, says he is often asked if kindergartners are too young to benefit from the experience. 鈥淔or us, that鈥檚 where the parent piece becomes an important role,鈥� he said.
Nu帽ez pointed out that since the program was established in 2009-2010, on average nearly 550 parents per year have attended college visits with their children.
鈥淥ur parents are the first and primary teachers of our students, so to be able to have them as part of the experience and have those conversations at home is key,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 interesting about our parents who participate, at least half of them say it鈥檚 been their first time on a college campus. It also addresses the first-generation barrier. For our parents to be involved in the college conversation, we also want them on a college campus.鈥�
Meadow Ridge kindergarten teacher Lindsey Ellwanger agreed that the experience won鈥檛 end when the campus visit is over. 鈥淚n class we will continue to talk about it and hopefully it will stick in their memories.鈥�
Experiencing College Life
OMA&D鈥檚 spring early outreach visits also brought middle and high school students to campus. Some of those events featured instruction from 91探花faculty and staff, giving the older students an 鈥渋nside-the-classroom鈥� look at college life.
For instance, in May OMA&D hosted 30 members of Hamilton International Middle School鈥檚 La Chispa Club, a Latino student leadership group. That event featured a science-focused academic workshop led by Tory Brundage, an adviser and student outreach coordinator with the 91探花.
A June visit for ninth-graders in Chief Sealth High School鈥檚 dual language program featured an academic workshop with 91探花faculty members from the , as well as the . Students also had an opportunity to hear three local industry professionals talk about their work during a panel discussion.
Students affiliated with community organizations also had opportunities to spend time at the UW. OMA&D partnered with , a non-profit that provides academic and intervention services for first-generation, low-income and underrepresented middle school males in the Federal Way Public School District. HERO brought 50 of its students to campus for an identity workshop and campus tour in May.
These particular events are just a few of the that OMA&D Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment hosts on campus and throughout the state that prepare underrepresented minority, first-generation and low-income students for college. Up next, they will take their annual , normally limited to campus, to locations across Washington, July 20-August 14. Shades of Purple serves rising high school seniors interested in attending the UW.
鈥淥ur unit鈥檚 outreach efforts are intentional about addressing the barriers to postsecondary education by supporting and providing pre-college preparation and increasing access for each student that we engage with,鈥� Wells said.
Kinder to College Photo Gallery
(Click to enlarge)
Photos by Erin Rowley