Photos by Tom Johnson
Dean Donna Richter, parents and scholars wrap-up five days of intensive work, play

Posted 07/20/2006

Carolina Master Scholars get wide ranging introduction to issues and opportunities in public health

Body image, firearm safety and preventing obesity through exercise are a few of the key public health issues addressed by a group of youngsters who gathered at USC’s Arnold School of Public Health, June 10-14.

Body Image By Education Nation Preventing Obesity By Active Wanted Kids [AWK] Preventing Gun Accidents By Rap It Up Productions Viewing requires Quicktime 6, a free download for Windows and Macintosh users available by clicking on the logo below

Over five days, the group of 17 academically-gifted students, grades 6-9, researched and identified these and other public health issues and then produced and filmed public service announcements on the topics that they believed to be most important to kids their age.

Parents of the students were invited to the premier viewing of the PSA spots on Friday.

The PSA exercise was one highlight of the introduction to public health camp, which is offered under the Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series program.

Since its inception in 2003, the Adventure Series Program has offered gifted middle- and high-school students a chance to study subjects such as health, science, medicine, law, art, African-American history, robotics, business, writing and criminology.

The Arnold School’s program included an introduction to the array of disciplines within the field of public health, a mock disaster drill and a tour of the school’s new 104,860square-foot building at the corner of Assembly and College streets.

The group also listened to a spokesman for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, exercised at the Blatt PE Center and learned about the dangers of smoking and alcohol abuse.

• Robert of Liberty in Pickens County was impressed with the disaster drill “and the need to be prepared.”  Robert said he is interested in research, particularly in bioengineering.
   

• “I didn’t know that smoking can turn your teeth yellow,’’ said Sarah, who lives in Union County. Sara said she became interested in the public health camp through her grandmother, who is a nurse.
   

• Seventh-grader Robert said the camp taught him about the “importance of exercise and to live right.” Robert, who lives in Blythewood, said he would like to become a physician like his parents and grandparents.
   

• Columbia resident Jai said working on the PSA helped her learn about eating disorders such as bulimia.  “You should learn to like your body the way it is,” she said.
   

• Chrysalis of Sumter attends a private school that offers K-12 courses over the Internet. “I am interested in helping other people,” said Chrysalis, who also is determined to stay physically fit.

(Editor's Note, USC policy requires summer program participants be identified only by first name and hometown)

Kara Montgomery, faculty coordinator for the program, said the camp was designed to broaden the students’ understanding of public health.

“Public health is a discipline that encompasses many fields beyond those that students typically consider in this area, such as medicine or dentistry," she said.

The Carolina Master Scholars Program was designed for students who have been identified by counselors as gifted and talented. If they enroll in and complete at least three adventures within six years they will receive a Carolina Master Scholar diploma.

Carolina Master Scholars receive special admission tracking to USC, special alumni status and, depending on their school district policy, extracurricular credit during the academic year.

For more information:

Carolina Master Scholars