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Yates Arts In Education Magnet
School
Union College President To Address 6th Graders
As They Move On, Move Up
Research
Project Connects Kids with Union
Union College
President Stephen Ainlay will address the 30 sixth graders who
are graduating from Yates Magnet Elementary School on
Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 6 p.m. in the Yates
auditorium. The commencement speech will mark the college
president’s first address to any local school. Ainlay, who will
talk to the students about the value of education with a special
eye on the importance of perseverance, agreed to speak at the
event after receiving a number of letters from the sixth graders
inquiring about Union College.
“I am delighted to
have this opportunity to speak to Yates School 6th
graders,” said Ainlay. “I greatly admire the work of their
teachers and administrators.” He added, “I am honored to have
been invited.”
Throughout the
school year, the Yates sixth graders have been working on a
project, “Colleges We Could Attend,” which is designed to
get the students thinking about college at an early age and to
start looking at the many possibilities before them.
As part of the
long-term project, they researched information about an array of
colleges and wrote to those college presidents for answers to
their many questions. Union College President Ainlay was among
the college leaders who the students were interested to hear
from.
According to Yates
Principal Valarie Scott, Ainlay replied and made a difference to
each child who wrote to the college president.
Ainlay said last
year he received letters from a number of students who expressed
interest in pursuing their educational goals at Union College.
“Their letters revealed their dreams and pointed to the enormous
potential they have to make a difference,” Ainlay added. “I
hope that I can convey something of the possibilities that the
world of education offers.”
He said he will
use examples from Union’s history to help the students see how
important it is to stay committed to learning and in school even
when it seems difficult to do so. Ainlay cited Charles
Steinmetz who overcame personal challenges to emerge as one of
the leading scientists of the 20th century, as one
example.
Scott said the
students are excited that Ainlay accepted their invitation.
“When we discussed who to invite to speak,” said Scott, “we all
agreed, he was a natural fit.” She added, “I think President
Ainlay’s visit sends a strong message about the project and we
appreciate that he thinks enough about it to come to Yates.”
“So many times
children believe that college is a far off dream,” continued
Scott. “We want every child to know that when we say every child
can succeed and go to college that it is their choice.”
Ainlay agrees.
“It is so important for educators at all levels of instruction
to reach out to young people and help them see the choices
before them,” he said.
“We are so excited
that President Ainlay is sharing the end of our first year of
the project,” added Scott. “This gives us inspiration to
continue and expand the project next year. “
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Yates Magnet
School is located at 725 Salina Street.
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