Jorge Parada Cisneros '25 is one of 31 student fellows who completed research with a community-based organization in upstate New York this summer as a part of the Upstate Institute Summer Field School. He describes the project below in his own words:
Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program (YSLPP) was established in 1993 with Utica University and the Utica City School District (UCSD). The program was designed by education professionals to motivate and encourage young talented adults to stay in school and earn a New York Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, and eventually pursue higher education by attending a college or university. The Young Scholar LPP provides academic, social, and cultural enrichment, which is vital for student success. Students in the program participate in a comprehensive program that provides them with academic and social enrichment during the summer. The summer program takes place at Utica University where rising seventh- and ninth-graders take courses taught by teachers around the Utica area. The program operates for three weeks to help students transition easily to a new academic atmosphere and building. For students to be accepted into the Young Scholars LPP, they must be nominated in the sixth grade by a teacher based on their character, and potential to succeed in the program. Students must maintain academic standards and engage in community service through middle and high school to remain in the program. The Young Scholars LPP provides services to more than 432 students from seventh to 12th grade each year. The program offers academic support such as tutoring, counseling, career explorations, a mentoring program year-round, and SAT Prep to support students' success. Alumni of the program indicate they are grateful to have had YSLPP as a resource to help them succeed.
I have worked with non-profit organizations in the past and was a part of a program at home called Tri Community Young Agency, which provided me with so much support throughout middle school and high school. In high school, I served as a member of the Board of Directors of the organization. I am happy to now have the chance to work with a similar organization that helps underrepresented students in the Utica area. I have always been passionate about giving back to the community and by working closely with this organization I feel like doing what I always wanted to do–giving back to the community. The resources that Young Scholars LPP provides for students helps motivate them pursue higher education, and sets them up for success.
When students graduate from the Young Scholars program, many want to give back to the program that helped them grow academically and personally. During my time within YSLPP, I met the incredible staff and students to get a better understanding of the program and the goals the program has for students. My research provided tools, techniques, and resources for the program and its staff to fully assist the students with the support they need to succeed. Throughout the summer I conducted interviews and surveys to collect information on students' needs for resources during the program and post-graduation. Looking into the literature was essential to learn what educators and professionals were doing to assist better students. Overall, after my fellowship, the data collected served the program to formulate and create programming and techniques for the students and staff.
Being part of this experience was something that I wanted to do within my Colgate career. Colgate has taught me of the importance of research as a foundation since my first year on campus. I feel like research is more exciting when the results of your research will be put into action for the benefit of the community. This helped me to be more motivated to do in-depth research and use all my resources to have concrete data at the end of my project. In the future, I plan to work for a nonprofit community-based organization before I pursue a Ph.D. or PA master's degree. No matter where life takes me, I would love to work with a nonprofit organization that has similar goals to YSLPP.