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The Ohio State University ● Office of Diversity and Inclusion
The
Young Scholars Program
Youngstown Office
Spring 2011
A Great Finish
—By Tiffany Quinones, Program Coordinator
My previous (and first) article was a reflection on new beginnings. Now, seven
months later, I’m excited to write about how well we’ve done. We welcomed Dr. Connie
Hathorn, the new Youngstown City Schools Superintendent, during our first meeting
of the year. Our academic workshops were taught by new instructors that brought
fresh ideas and initiatives with them. We are sending five Scholars to Columbus well
prepared to begin their lives as college freshmen at The Ohio State University, and we
inducted ten Pre-Young Scholars that will begin their journey towards academic excellence,
with the ultimate goal of attending OSU with a GPA above a 3.3.
Senior scholars with Tiffany Quinones. I want to thank all of you for the warm welcome I received as the new YSP Youngstown
Coordinator. I also would like to thank our Parent Alliance team for their participation
and support as well as parents/guardians for their dedication in transporting our Scholars to meetings and workshops. Take
time this summer to enjoy life, family, and good food (smile). I look forward to seeing you all this fall.
How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but to be someone. --COCO CHANEL
Academic Workshops Began January 2011
Kenneth Andrews, III, (East High School math teacher) taught seventh—tenth grade students math. Students attended
four two-hour sessions at Choffin Career and Technical Center.
Mark Robinson (Rayen Early College science teacher) taught seventh & eighth grade scholars science. Students
attended four two-hour sessions at Choffin Career and Technical Center beginning in January.

ACT Preparation Workshop
Five juniors began their ACT Preparation Workshops on January 13, 2011. Sylvan Learning Center provided the instruction.
Scholars attended 12 two-hour sessions at Choffin Career and Technical Center. The last workshop date was
March 31. The sessions were provided to improve ACT scores which are reviewed for their admission to OSU. Scholars
registered to take the April 9 ACT.
Scholar Activities & Achievements
The following scholars have been involved in a variety of programs, and we’re proud of their participation
in extra curricular activities! Most have had their names and/or photos in articles printed by The Vindicator.
■ Tonniequa Shade, Tyler Johnson, and Taurean McCullough, eighth grade students at Wilson Middle School, were
involved in the International Book Sharing Project that lead them to interact with a school in Haifa, Israel. The project
teaches about the Holocaust and standing up against injustice. Students took a trip to Washington, D.C. that included a
visit to the Holocaust Museum.
■ As president of the East High Spanish Club, Barraya Hickson, assisted in the planning of the Quinceanera, the celebration
of when a young lady becomes an adult. Held at East High School, the event included students in formal attire,
dinner, and the observance of customs and dance.
■ LaRazia Tolbert, Volney Middle, and Damon McDowell, Rayen Early College, participated in Challenge 24. The
math competition included Mahoning County schools. LaRazia placed third while Damon took fourth place honors.
■ Exploring the Ax Factory Creek for water quality and insect life, Roosevelt Cooper, Volney Middle School, participated
in the Mahoning River Education Project as part of his honors science class.
■ Congratulations to the following scholars who were inducted into the National Honor Society: Leon Robinson, Jr.
(Youngstown Early College), D’Treal Bennett (Youngstown Early College), and Tuerei Williams (Liberty High School).
■ A job well done to Roosevelt Cooper and LaRazia Tolbert, both students at Volney, for being honored at the
YAABSE’s Student Recognition Banquet held at the McGuffey Center on May 19, 2011.
■ A round of applause to these fine students who were recognized for their academic achievements at the Annual Academic
Achievement Olympiad on May 22, 2011 at YSU’s Beeghly Center: Akeera Mitchell, Leon Robinson, Tahtiana
Hewlett, and LeAqua White of the Youngstown Early College. Barraya Hickson and Joel Montaz of East High School.
Riyed Hamayel, Gerald Walker, Jabrell Walker, Jo’Vohna Hughes, and Tonneiqua Shade of Wilson Middle. JaJaun
Powell of P. Ross Berry. LaRazia Tolbert and LaQuashia Phillips of Volney. Jumarie Figueroa and Robert Soto of the
Rayen Early College.
Page 2
The Scholar Times

Samuel DuBois Cook Summer Academy Information Meeting
Juniors attended an information meeting about their upcoming trip to the OSU
Columbus campus. Students will join other juniors from the eight YSP offices in
Ohio for a two-week summer academy held July
17 – 30, 2011. Program Coordinator, Tiffany
Quinones, reviewed several aspects of the academy:
mission and history, academic curriculum,
conduct, dress code, support services, and special
events. Last year attendees, Barraya Hickson
and Cametreus Clardy, were on hand to answer any questions and to discuss their
summer experience. YSP staff have be planning for months to ensure students have a
positive learning experience at the Summer Academy!
Senior Meetings
On February 9, 2011, Program Coordinator,
Tiffany Quinones, assisted seniors with their
FAFSA applications and provided information
on other financial aid they will need as OSU students.
Ricardo Zamaripa, OSU Scholarship
Services, traveled to Youngstown on May 5 to
explain components of the award/financial aid
package seniors will receive when they become
―buckeyes‖ in the fall.
Scholar Reminders
School/Address/Phone Changes: Please let us know if you have changed schools, moved, and/or
have a new phone number. It’s your responsibility to inform us; we do not receive this information from
the school district. This is especially important as the Youngstown City School District has realigned its
grade levels at various schools.
Scholar Accomplishments: If you’d like your accomplishments to be recognized in this newsletter,
please give us a call, and we’ll be pleased and proud to mention it. The information gathered on the
students, listed on page 2, was mainly received from reading the local newspaper or seen on the YCSD
web site.
Keep Informed: For high school scholars, the end of the year is a good time to ask your school for
your ―transcript.‖ This is a comprehensive report that includes all of the classes and credits (even in the
eighth grade) that you have taken that is applied to your high school graduation requirements. It also
gives you your GPA for the year and cumulative GPA, class ranking, what standardized tests and
scores you have received, comments, and more. Carefully review this transcript to be certain you are going to
meet all of the requirements to graduate from high school and enter college at OSU!
We are here to assist you in reaching your academic goals; please give us a call if you have questions.
Spring 2011 Page 3

Nomination-Selection Process
Our thanks to the Youngstown City Schools’ sixth grade principals, teachers,
and counselors who took the time to nominate their students for our program.
They had to gather report cards, attendance records, and achievement test
scores as well as complete a four-page application. Because of their assistance,
the department received 32 applications. After reviewing eligibility requirements,
the applications were reviewed and scored by the following individuals
who volunteered their time in the evening to assist us: Scott Ackerman,
Social Security Administration; Angela Billups, Mahoning County Department of
Jobs and Family Services; and Terrence Phelps, National College. A special
thank you to Pamela Logan, Youngstown City Schools, for her assistance with training and analyzing achievement
scores. Program Coordinator, Tiffany Quinones, conducted one-on-one interviews with the highest ranking students
and submitted the qualified applicants to the Young Scholars Program in Columbus for final review and inclusion to the
program.
New Pre-Scholars Information Meeting & Presentation to YCS Board
Program Coordinator, Tiffany
Quinones, welcomed ten sixth graders
into the Young Scholars Program
on May 10, 2011. Ms. Quinones
spoke of the activities they and their
parents will be involved with such as
academic workshops, career, community,
and personal development
events. Eligibility requirements (3.3
GPA and 80% participation) were discussed
as well. The students, along
with graduating seniors, were presented
to the Superintendent, Dr.
Hathorn, and the Youngstown Board
of Education members during their
regularly scheduled meeting that
same evening. Seniors pinned the
incoming pre-young scholars as each
shook hands with Board members
and YCS administrators. A formal
Induction and Recognition Ceremony
and reception took place on May 26,
2011 at the B & O Station Banquet
Hall where parents, scholars, extended
family, and school staff were
invited to attend.
Page 4
The Scholar Times

Induction-Senior Recognition Ceremony
On May 26, 2011, a new class of sixth graders were inducted
into the Young Scholars Program. Tiffany Quinones,
Program Coordinator, welcomed parents, students, and
community supporters to the evening’s event at the B & O
Banquet Hall. Guest speaker was Keith Lofton, seasoned
Program Coordinator, from the Cleveland office. Mr. Lofton
spoke of his experience as a young scholar and college student
at OSU and how he eventually was hired as a program
coordinator for the organization that assisted him in receiving
his OSU degree. The Class of 2011 pre-young scholars
were given OSU book bags, a set of reference books, and
certificates. Five seniors successfully completed the sixyear
Young Scholars Program requirements entitling them to
admission to OSU and a financial aid package based on
their individual verified need. Irene Hucul, Office Assistant,
had the honor of pinning the seniors with a graduation pin.
As a token of accomplishment, each senior received an
OSU portfolio case, certificate, and a gift bag with a variety
of OSU items. A meal was enjoyed by all as well as an opportunity
for fellowship and congratulations.
Incoming Pre-Scholars:
Andree Bowers, Jr. ............. P. Ross Berry
Tyler Davis .......................... P. Ross Berry
Riyed Hamayel .................... Wilson Middle
Michael Hughes .................. P. Ross Berry
Billy McGeorge, Jr. .............. Wilson Middle
Ralph Reddinger ................. Rayen Early College
Robert Soto ......................... Rayen Early College
Te’Ana Sullivan ................... Volney
Gerald Walker ..................... Wilson Middle
Jarelle Watkins .................... P. Ross Berry
Graduating Seniors Scholars:
Deunte’ Banks ..................... Yngt. Early College
Cametreus Clardy ............... East High School
Jon Green ........................... Yngt. Early College
Barraya Hickson .................. East High School
Cierra Pruitt-Eiland .............. Liberty High School
Senior YSP Graduates
The Youngstown staff is proud to announce that this year’s YSP scholarship is $6,116 per quarter at OSU which equals
$18,348 a year! A YSP Scholarship is currently awarded for up to 15 quarters—that is a total of $91,740! Below are the
students who were inducted into YSP in 2005 and are now on their way to study at OSU in the fall.
Deunte’ Banks
Yngt. Early College
Major: Business
Cametreus Clardy
East High School
Major: Biology
Jon Green
Yngt. Early College
Major: Fashion/Retail
Barraya Hickson
East High School
Major: Engineering
Cierra Pruitt-Eiland
Liberty High School
Major: Pre-Med
Spring 2011 Page 5

Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Young Scholars Program
20 W. Wood Street, Room 304
P.O. Box 550
Youngstown, OH 44501
Mission Statement
The Ohio State University Office of Diversity and
Inclusion Young Scholars Program is a comprehensive
pre-collegiate and collegiate program designed
to enhance the academic, personal, and
career development of its Scholars. Founded in
1988, YSP is designed to increase the numbers of talented first
generation, economically challenged, underrepresented students
at OSU. This statewide program, which is a collaborative effort
between The Ohio State University and Ohio’s nine largest urban
school districts (Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus,
Dayton, Lorain, Toledo, and Youngstown), represents one of The
Ohio State University’s finest efforts at increasing college access
as well as diversity.
The Ohio State University
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Young Scholars Program
Youngstown Public Schools
20 West Wood Street
Post Office Box 550
Youngstown, OH 44501
Phone 330-744-5907
FAX 330-744-6950
Tiffany Quinones
Program Coordinator
Quinines.37@osu.edu
&
Irene Hucul
Office Assistant
Hucul.3@osu.edu
www.odi.osu.edu