Program Provides Access to Summer of Science

Nestled on Sarasota Bay, a group of campers stood on the rose-colored dock of New College not just enjoying the view but measuring the water’s pH and salinity levels. Cynthia Suarez, a rising eighth-grader at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, could tell the activity was about more than just discerning water quality. “We have to take care of the Earth,” Cynthia said. “We’re just kind of killing it right now.” Cynthia is just one of the 29 participants at New College’s PUSH/SUCCESS summer camp — a program for underprivileged youth to learn about the sciences. Program director Sandra Gilchrist, a biology professor at New College, first developed PUSH/SUCCESS twelve years ago, inspired to educate students in the sciences who may not otherwise get the chance. While PUSH — “Preparing Unique Students for Healthcare Careers” — is geared toward ninth- to eleventh-graders, SUCCESS — “Students United to Create Culturally and Educationally Successful Situations” — is intended for sixth- to eighth-graders.