SHREVEPORT – Middle schooler Jaiden Harris said he assumed he’d work in the fast-food industry after high school.
But Harris’ horizon for himself changed after participating in the LaPrep program at LSUS, a seven-week summer enrichment camp that focuses on topics in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“This program has given me the confidence to apply for higher education,” Harris said as he addressed a crowd gathered for the 31st annual LaPrep Award Ceremony in the LSUS Theatre. “I didn’t know how to dream big or set goals – I always thought I’d work at McDonald’s.
“After completing my first year at LaPrep … I want to become an engineer or a dermatologist.”
Harris is one of 25 middle schoolers in the first-year cohort with another 20 second-year cohort members celebrating their completion of the two-summer program at Thursday’s ceremony.
The program -- which is free to students thanks to generous sponsors like SWEPCO, The Community Foundation of North Louisiana, and the Grayson Foundation – consists of classes not typically offered in a school setting.
Engineering, logic, problem solving, leadership skills, immunology, cyber security, and coding are a sampling of LaPrep offerings.
“We were able to apply mathematical concepts to the real world to launch catapults and land parachutes,” said Sophie Abro, a first-year participant. “I gained a new sense of direction to venture out of my comfort zone to explore new possibilities.
“LaPrep has inspired me to pursue my dreams and passions with confidence and determination.”
Program graduate Aryan Abujah said exposure to new ideas will help him navigate career options when he goes to college.
“Our knowledge base has been broadened,” second-year member Abujah said. “We’ve been encouraged to interact socially and combine our individual strengths toward common goals.
“We took field trips that revealed how the concepts we’ve learned apply to the real world, and we got to meet people who have dedicated their lives to better their community.”
LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith told the middle schoolers how a similar program offered at his local Pennsylvania college launched his career trajectory.
Neither of the Philadelphia native’s parents attended college, but his father enrolled him in a computer programming class while in high school.
“That pointed me toward a career in STEM, said Smith, a mathematics professor who authored 10 calculus textbooks. “If I had not taken that first step, I don’t think I’m standing here in front of you.
“I want to challenge you not to be afraid to think big. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.”
Smith added that the program, started in 1992 by founder Dr. Carlos Spaht, has sent all 620 of its graduates to college with the majority of them pursuing a degree in a STEM field.
Program director Dr. Irina Ilioaea helped revive the program in 2023 after Spaht’s retirement with Thursday marking a return to a ceremony featuring two cohorts. The program didn’t operate in 2022 and had one cohort in 2023.
“We can’t do this without the dedicated teachers and program assistants as well as the excellent students,” Ilioaea said. “We have a great team here that challenges our participants and exposes them to different classes than what they’d experience in school.”
Multiple students distinguished themselves in an already distinguished group as they were honored with special awards.
Deepthi Kolluru and Emmalie Taverner who chosen as the top students in the second-year cohort with Aiden Zhao and Brian Han coming in third and fourth, respectively.
Geshna Charugundla, Haswell Okuampa, and Rayna Gamble were recognized as the top first-year students.
Second-year members Taverner and Michael Okoh were chosen for the Spirit of LaPrep Award, which recognizes leadership and collegiality.
Other program graduates include Aryan Dodla, Jonathan Grimble, JaNoah Hawthorne, Ethan Hill, Caleb James, Kinzlee Koglin, Ruhan Kondala, Varun Mungur, Vidhi Mungur, Daniel Ogundeji, Danielle Ogundeji, Iyla Swift, Alexandra Waltz, and Shabd Warar.
Members who completed their first year include Katherine Barahona Ramirez, Mason Brooks, Lucas Chu, Bernadette Garcia, Oswin Gazmer, Charles Green III, Sophia Griffin, Kasen Hamilton, Katilyn Latson, Serenity Lucas, Andrew Martinez, Mahogany Murray, Chance Newton, Alexandra Pirraglia, Ian Shen, Paul Truong, Peter Truong, Delaney Uzzle, Ayaan Virk, and Baylie Webb
First-year participants are invited to attend the program in year two with new applications for first-year members starting in February or March.
To learn more about LaPrep, visit the program website.
