Annual Report 2019-20
Dorion Bell sets her sights on a future in science Page 3
Director’s Message
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e faced unprecedented challenges this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. As our students transitioned to online learning in their schools, so did we, canceling all in-person programming, including our 2020 summer camp. We are continuing to hold all programming virtually for at least the first semester of the 2020-21 academic year. The strength of our program is built on the relationships we have with our students and families. While meeting virtually has challenged this closeness, we have learned how important it is to maintain those relationships as best we can. Evidence across the country shows that low-income students of color are facing disproportionate learning loss, exacerbating already existing gaps. Now more than ever, we recognize the unique position our program is in to provide extra academic support and mentorship for our students while also serving as a community navigator, connecting the families we support to vital community resources.
“In keeping our promise, we’re helping students fulfill their promise.” — Emilio Solano ’09 Executive Director
As many of our families face the economic impacts of COVID-19, including job loss, the challenge of college affordability will be even greater. Each year, the Academy becomes better equipped in identifying colleges and scholarships that will mitigate these concerns. Of our 2020 graduates, eight students are attending Willamette University and have their full demonstrated financial need met, four students are enrolled at other schools that meet their full demonstrated need, and four others received the Ford Family Scholarship, which takes care of 90% of their remaining financial need at any Oregon school.
You and other donors have supported the Academy’s work through annual giving, pledges to our endowment, and the establishment of new university scholarships to help fund the College Achievement Plan, which takes care of the full demonstrated financial need of Academy students who are accepted to Willamette. By eliminating the financial barriers our students may face, your support creates a pathway to a Willamette education, ensuring that the promise we make to our students continues to be met. During our virtual graduation ceremony celebrating our 14th class, we listened to speeches and watched our traditional slideshow, which includes pictures from all five years of their Academy experience. At the end of the ceremony, we set aside time for our students and families to share words of reflection. One of our parents thanked us and powerfully explained his feelings about Willamette Academy. He recalled telling his co-workers five years ago that his son had gotten into the Academy. They told him he had “won the lottery.” This fall, his son cashed in that lottery ticket as a Willamette first-year student — with the help of the College Achievement Plan. In keeping our promise, we’re helping students fulfill their promise. Thank you for your partnership. Emilio Solano ’09 Executive Director
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Willamette Academy Annual Report 2019-20
Academy connects Dorion Bell to a promising path
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“Willamette is a good school for me because it’s small and the professors are really caring,” Bell said.
Those connections were forged at Willamette Academy. Now the sophomore is pursuing a chemistry major and has been named a STEM Fellow in Willamette’s S-STEM program for first-generation students involved in science, technology, engineering and math.
“It helped me advocate for myself,” Bell said. “I learned how to express how I feel and how I should be treated.”
hen Dorion Bell started her first year at Willamette in 2019, she felt confident. She’d already established a circle of friends and knew several faculty members, including Professor of Biology David Craig.
“I’ve worked with professor Craig a lot — he’s my advisor and one of the professors I feel closest to,” Bell said. “I’m really excited about organic chemistry this year. I’m hoping it will shed more light on what I want to do further on in life.” Bell credits the Academy for steering her toward a promising future. By maintaining her grades, extracurricular activities and community service throughout high school, she was assured admission to Willamette, a university she wouldn’t have considered if it hadn’t been for the Academy. Craig was there to support her as she embarked on her college journey. He’d been her instructor during an Academy summer camp, so she immediately felt at ease.
Her first year was a time of transformation. She took classes that broadened her perspectives, learned how to manage her time and embraced unexpected challenges, such as being exposed to personalities unlike her own.
Sophomore Dorion Bell said Professor of Biology David Craig has been a source of encouragement and support during her time at Willamette.
As a sophomore, she’s serving as an annual planner for the Willamette Events Board. She’s also receiving academic guidance, mentorship and co-curricular support from the S-STEM program, which is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Bell acknowledges the lack of women (particularly Black women) in science, technology, engineering and math, but she’s ready for the challenge. After all, she’s had to overcome numerous obstacles during her life. Armed with the inner strength she’s developed at Willamette over the past six years, Bell is excited to be working toward her future.
Willamette Academy Annual Report 2019-20
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The 2019 summer camp gave students a chance to experience life at Willamette. Participants included members of the Academy’s class of 2023, including (clockwise from left) Melina Frierson, Diego Patterson, Kaylan Ma, Joanna Cruz and Beyonce Capelle, along with Emerei Borja (bottom).
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Academy students selected as Gates Millennium Scholars
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$1,920 100% Approximate annual cost per student to conduct Academy programming
Willamette Academy Annual Report 2019-20
Proportion of Academy students who are students of color
145
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Salem-Keizer School Academy District students (grades selected as F by the For 8-12) currently enrolled at Found the Academy
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The Mill Stream was the perfect learning environment for Andrea Garcia Torres during the 2019 summer camp. She graduated from the Academy this past spring.
students Ford Scholars rd Family dation
75%
Academy alumni who’ve either graduated from or are currently enrolled at a two- or four-year college
90% 3.59 100% Academy students receiving free or reduced-cost school lunches
Average GPA of Academy students (cumulative as of the 2019-20 academic year)
Academy students who will be first-generation college students
Willamette Academy Annual Report 2019-20
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Highlights 2019-20
Thirty-three students attended Academyspecific info sessions with admission counselors from Pomona College and Occidental College.
In January, students designed and implemented an event — Freedom Dreaming, a Collection of Alternative Histories — for Willamette’s weeklong celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Six Saturday sessions engaged students in leadership development, community-building exercises, goal setting, college and career exploration, high school and college transition, financial literacy, and SAT prep while providing general academic support. The final four Saturday sessions were canceled due to COVID-19.
Thirty-seven students attended a census workshop in January, learning about the importance of filling it out and how they could get involved. In October, juniors took a college tour trip to Seattle University and the University of Washington.
At the February Saturday session, Willamette Law students taught 11th-graders how to brief a case. In February, students attended the spring Atkinson Lecture, “Diversity is Not Just the Differences You Like.” It was delivered by Eboo Patel. Thirteen students attended a pre-med brainstorming and planning workshop. In March, the Academy took all programming online for the rest of the year. In May, the Academy reviewed 120 applications, conducted 70 virtual student interviews and welcomed 32 rising eighth-graders to the program.
All students had the opportunity to visit Reed College, Linfield College, Oregon State University and the University of Portland. A planned trip to Western Oregon University was canceled due to COVID-19. College Track sessions provided Academy seniors with workshops on financial aid, college and scholarship applications, matriculation, and how to transition into college.
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Willamette Academy Annual Report 2019-20
Academy students attended a workshop in October with Professor of Biology David Craig at Willamette’s Zena research forest. Students attended the fall Atkinson Lecture, “Search and Discover: What the Internet and Big Data Reveal about Who We Are.” It was presented by data scientist and best-selling author Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. In November, students volunteered at and attended the Dia de los Muertos event sponsored by Willamette’s Latinx club, Alianza.
On May 29, the Academy celebrated 28 graduates, tying last year’s class as the largest class ever. This fall, eight graduates are attending Willamette University, while the rest are pursuing their studies at George Fox University, Western Oregon University, the Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Reed College, Chemeketa Community College, Occidental College, the University of Oregon, Colgate University, Corban University, Portland State University and Linfield College.
Students emerge as leaders in local, tribal communities
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ariah Benitez ’22 and Gabriel Jurado ’22 are making an impact in their high schools and local communities. They’re also establishing their presence in the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Tell us a bit about your tribal and community involvement. Mariah: In my tribe, I’m a council treasurer and social media coordinator. In the community, I’m the youth representative for the Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership team in Keizer. At school, I’ve served as class president every single year since middle school, and I will be the junior class president this school year. Gabriel: For my tribe, I help organize annual events and fundraisers for our youth council, and for many years, I’ve volunteered at our annual pow wows selling merchandise. How has Willamette Academy encouraged you to be a leader? Mariah: It strengthened my skills for school and for life. Last year, when the Keizer mayor and my principal asked me to speak at a groundbreaking ceremony, the Academy supported me. Now I feel comfortable with public speaking, which is essential for leadership positions.
Gabriel: I’ve applied the knowledge from our Saturday sessions and my mentors to gain more confidence in my speaking abilities. Mariah and I also regularly take “healthy risks,” like talking to someone new, because we know every opportunity will help our future.
Gabriel Jurado (left) and Mariah Benitez say the Academy has helped them hone their leadership and public speaking skills.
Your involvement has led to some incredible opportunities. What have you learned? Mariah: I’ve learned to consider the opinion of my peers when making decisions. Being a leader doesn’t mean doing everything by yourself. It means finding strength in others and using those strengths to provide the best possible outcome. So many Native youth don’t get the recognition they deserve. At conferences, I hear their stories and give them support. It reminds me I’m not alone. Many come from the same background as I do — I will be one of the first in my family to graduate from college — and are a success. Gabriel: I’ve traveled across the country for conferences since I was 9, mostly with my mom. In 2013, my family and I were selected for a cultural exchange in Bolivia because of our work maintaining our cultural identity and language. I saw firsthand how differently Indigenous people were treated there compared to in America, and it broadened my perspective. Willamette Academy Annual Report 2019-20
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Class of 2020
Our mission is to educate, inspire and empower students from historically underrepresented communities who have the desire to advance to and achieve higher education.
To learn how you can support our mission, visit willamette.edu/community/academy.
This year’s annual report features photos taken before and after the establishment of safety guidelines related to COVID-19.
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