This past June the Pathways Academy, a statewide K-12 STEM-H educational and community engagement program with the ultimate goal of diversifying the healthcare workforce hosted a two-week Summer Intensive Camp with approximately 40 students. The students were split up into two groups, one was the Senior Stem Academy for 6-8th grade students and the Ramp Up Academy for 9-12th grade students.
According to the Univerisity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the program which started in 2021 is under the UAMS Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, where its goal is to improve the health, healthcare, and well-being of Arkansans while promoting and supporting all cultures.
Friday, Pathways hosted a closing ceremony with parents and the community to close out the camp featuring presentations by all of the students. Deltaplex News attended the event and spoke with the Executive Director of Pathways Academy Shanea Nelson and she explained how the program got started and highlighted what the students did here in Pine Bluff.
The Site Coordinator, Shekinah Alexander also spoke with Deltaplex about what took place in those two weeks of the program and the ceremony.
Some of the topics that the students presented included, health disparities, financial disparities, smoking, drinking, and more.
Pathways Academy is not just a summer program it is also a program that takes place during the academic school year and Nelson explained more about that to Deltaplex News.
Nelson said that the High school students received a stipend of $200 at the end of the camp and she mentioned that Pathways is trying to obtain more sponsorships to provide that stipend for the ages 6-8th. The top student presenters will be presenting at their Research Symposium in Little Rock on August 2nd.
