Getting to experience a new country’s academic environment at a young age is extremely valuable, especially when cost is removed as a barrier.
Two Brazilian high school students attended summer programs offered by The Ohio State University this June, thanks to the support of the Alumni Club of Brazil and the Brazil Gateway.
João Vitor Margatho Alcides and Sophia Felix each were the recipients of scholarships from the alumni club, attending the Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration program and the Neuroscience Summer Camp respectively, and got to live and learn on campus for a week.
“Honestly, I did not imagine how much that week would impact my academic and personal journey. Arriving at Ohio State’s campus is truly impressive. It is impossible not to notice the institution’s commitment to teaching, research and the education of its students. Each visit reinforced the perception that Ohio State is much more than a university of academic excellence: it is an environment where science, art, innovation, and culture coexist in a unique way. I am deeply grateful to Ohio State University and the Alumni Club of Brazil for making it possible for students like me to have access to such transformative experiences,” said Margatho Alcides, who attended the “Leadership: What it is and How to Get it” program through the College of Arts and Sciences.
Felix, who participated in the College of Medicine’s camp on brain and spinal cord functions in health and disease, shared, “This experience was truly unforgettable and had a huge impact on me. As a high school student interested in medicine and neuroscience, it was inspiring to be able to experience the academic environment of Ohio State University up close and to have access to experiences that I would never have imagined having so early in life. I am deeply grateful to the Alumni Club of Brazil for believing in students and making such a transformative experience possible.”
Both students returned to Brazil with an increased understanding of their respective subject areas, while also gaining living and working experiences with a large, international institution like Ohio State.