Chester wants to provide secondary education opportunities for all high school students, despite their family’s financial status.
Chester, who has led the Health Sciences and Technology Aca-demy at WVU as its director for the last 25 years, said the program offers free secondary education for the state’s high school students who need options.
According to a WVU press release, only about 56 percent of West Virginians attend college. However, through the HSTA program, students reach the 99 percent mark. The graduation rate for HSTA is 90 percent.
“HSTA can impact a student by opening the doors,” Chester said. “We have so many kids in West Virginia who are bright, so many kids in West Virginia who have the potential to be successful, but the opportunities are just not as widespread as the potential.”
HSTA gives them that chance, whether they can’t afford the college experience or whether they’re from families where no one has attended college, she added.
“So where 99 percent of these kids are going to college, 90 percent of them are graduating with at least a two-year degree in six years, and 87 percent are graduating with a four-year degree,” Chester said.
Kirk Moore, a junior from Morgantown, is one of those students benefiting from the HSTA program.
“People that I know in my community or family are very excited for me, and not all of my family has had the opportunity to go to college and actually complete college, and especially not debt-free for the ones that did,” Moore said.
“They’re very excited for me, and they realize how much of an opportunity it is, and they always encourage me to keep going on for as much education as I want because it’s free.”
Mentors needed
Potomac State College is searching for college students to serve as mentors at the summer HSTA camp. It’s a one-week, forensic science camp held July 21-26 at Potomac State in Keyser.
The 10th grade camp focuses on math and science.
Mandatory mentor training is July 20.
According to a release from Potomac State, mentors will:
- Oversee students to and from academic courses and provide assistance in the classroom when requested.
- Offer guidance on college life, time management and study skills.
- Interact with stu-dents and attend social activities and events sponsored by HSTA.
- Promote an atmosphere conducive to balancing both academics and social activities.
- Live on campus during the entire camp.
More information regarding salary, amenities and minimum requirements along with the application are available at bit.ly/HSTAMentors
The deadline to apply is April 15. Application questions can be emailed to Potomac State College Biology Professor Vicki Huffman at vicki.huffman@mail.wvu.edu.
