Recruitment for Oncofertility Saturday Academy (OSA) 2010 applicants officially began on Monday, November 9, 2009. This is the fourth consecutive year of OSA and we are expecting a very competitive pool of applicants from Young Women’s Leadership Charter School. OSA was initiated in 2007 by the Northwestern University and Young Women’s Leadership Charter School (YWLCS) of Chicago Science Partnership. Since its inception, a total of 46 YWLCS high school girls have participated in the OSA. Today, of the 46 students, two are college juniors, 15 are college sophomores, 14 are college freshman and 15 are 12th graders in high school. Of the 31 who are in college, most are actively pursuing science-related majors. OSA Directors and Coordinators will be contacting and surveying all OSA Alums this year to gather information about their most current academic and careers pursuits. Currently, OSA is also developing mechanisms and opportunities to provide long-term mentoring and support to the participants as they make the transition from high school to college and beyond.
OSA is hoping that the 31 OSA Alums will post comments on this blog to give reasons to the current YWLCS 11th and 12th grade students to apply to OSA.
- What did you like most about OSA?
- How did OSA help you make decisions about your academic or career path?
- How did OSA impact your life?
OSA Alums this is an opportunity for you to give guidance to the next group of OSA participants. Here are the names of the OSA Alums:
Chanel, Shardey, Nicole, Angelica, Ashley A. Antavia, Guadalupe, Christina, Jasmine F., Ashley M., Antavia, Natalia, Megan, Jasmine S., Yasmine, Deja, Alex, Samantha, Nikki, Mona, Grace, Chloe, Eboni, Abigail, Jathia, Kirsa, Iesha, Brittany, Shaquita, Jasmine W. and Jasmine P.
The Institute for Women’s Health Research created the Women’s Health Science Program for High School Girls and Beyond (WHSP). The Oncofertility Saturday Academy (OSA) is one of the four academies offered by WHSP to inspire and prepare the next generation of women leaders in science and medicine. To promote and encourage the high school girls to take action and live healthier lives, health workshops, nutritious meals and fitness classes are integrated into every academy. To learn more about all four academies, please visit whsp.northwestern.edu.
Thank you Nikki Cooper and Grace Gallegos for posting comments to the blog. Here are a couple photos of you in action during OSA! Other OSA Alumni, if you make a comment, I will post your photo!
Nikki Cooper, OSA Alumni, Future General Surgeon
Grace Gallegos, OSA Alumni, Future Paramedic and Nurse
Megan Romero (on far left) with her OSA sisters. Megan worked as an OSA Alumni Lab Fellow this past summer in Dr. Woodruff's lab.
Abigail Johnson isolated follicles in Dr. Woodruff's lab.
Ashley McKinney is a sophomore at Hampton University. Ashley was an OSA Alumni Lab Fellow this summer in Dr. Woodruff's laboratory. SCIENCE RULES!
Shardey is one of the most experienced OSA leaders. She is now a junior in college and majoring in forensic science.
Samantha Torres with the da Vinci surgical robot.