As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 164,500 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 19,234 employees including 10,500 teachers in 218 schools.
6 Nov 2001
Visits to Area Hospitals, Businesses and Colleges Act as Motivation for DISD Students
DALLAS—More than 500 Dallas Independent School District sixth through twelfth grade students will be able to get a taste of higher education and various technical careers Friday, November 9, and November 16 as they take part in the Majority to Minority Transfer program, a voluntary school transfer option for desegregation purposes.
High school students will participate in tours and activities as part of Minds in Motion on November 9. Elementary and middle school students and their parents will take advantage of the activities and information offered at 21st Century College for Young People on November 16.
"These events offer students the opportunity to experience college for a day and hopefully get excited about a college career. Most of the students are a product of the district's M-M Transfer program," said Judy Thomas, student transfer coordinator. "These students are excited about the possibility of going to college or pursuing a technical career because they know that as program participants they are eligible to receive a scholarship to any one of the seven Dallas County community colleges. So college is not a dream, it is a reality for them."
Both programs start at 9 a.m. at the high school and middle school in Seagoville. From there, students interested in careers in the fields of math and science, education and child development, nursing, theater arts, the performing arts, and visual communications will attend classes at Brookhaven College. The students also will visit Brookhaven's state of the art Ellison Miles Geotechnology Institute.
Students interested in careers in information technology will visit EDS. Those attracted to the field of medicine and hospital careers will explore RHD Memorial Hospital. The ever-increasing opportunities in physical fitness and wellness will be the focus of a side excursion to Cooper Aerobics Center. Still others will experience firsthand the workings of an animal clinic when they tour the Valley View Health Center.
On both Fridays, parents will receive orientation about financial aid, ways to motivate their children to stay in school, and how to help their children select courses that will be an advantage to them in the future.
The Majority to Minority Scholarship program offers a scholarship of up to $1,040 to DISD high school students who participate in the program. For each year of participation, students receive a $260 scholarship, enough for one semester's tuition. The M-M Scholarship may be used for college during the regular or summer terms.
Minds in Motion and 21st Century College are sponsored by the DISD, the Dallas County Community College District, and Brookhaven College.
For more information on Minds in Motion, the 21st Century College for Young People, or the district's transfer programs, call Judy Thomas at (972) 925-3277.