Introducing the 2023 Class of the Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute! This program hosted by the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, in collaboration with Durham Public Schools, offers high school students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of academic research while exploring complex social issues and equity topics.
Meet Our Scholars
Each Scholar has completed a rigorous curriculum and culminated their experience by presenting a research poster (Cohort 1) and research paper (Cohort 2) on pressing social issues. Their projects, ranging from affirmative action to redlining, are highlighted below. To learn more about our Scholars, view their individual profiles which showcase their project topics and the schools they attend.
Scholars in each cohort hail from various high schools across Durham, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the program.
Cohort 1
Joshua Uba (Visiting Scholar)
Project:
Not Going To School: Truancy and How It Impacts Students
Education:
Voyager Academy
Kaila Kissi
Project:
Decreasing Black Maternal Mortality in the U.S.
Education:
City of Medicine Academy
Kaila West
Project:
The Air They Breathe: How Stigmas and Stereotypes Impact Mental Health in Black Adolescents
Education:
Northern Durham High School
Kayla Atkins
Project:
Water Inequalities and Sanitation in Low- Income Areas
Education:
Hillside High School
Kayla Ortega-Burch
Project:
The Mental Health Effects of Immigration for the Latin X Community
Education:
Northern Durham High School
Kayln Clark (Visiting Scholar)
Project:
The Impact of Affirmative Action and How the Overturning of it Has Affected Students of Color
Education:
Panther Creek High School
Kelci Lucas
Cohort 2
Andrew Shan
Project:
Corporate Control: How Companies Manipulate Legal Systems for Profit
Education:
Charles E. Jordan High School
Ashley Romero-Love
Project:
How Restrictive Abortion Laws Impact the Mental, Physical, and Financial Well-Being of Low-Income Adolescents of Color
Education:
Durham School of the Arts
Jamil Ali
Project:
Afrocentric Education, Black Racial Congruence, and Fostering a Sense of Belonging: A Critical Examination of Education As a Whole For Black Children
Education:
Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School
Jordan Vereen
Project:
Catching Before They Fall: Using School Counseling to Uplift Black Boys
Education:
Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School
Kaleb Lucas
Project:
Locked and Loaded: A Closer Look at Juvenile Records and Background Checks
Education:
Durham School of the Arts
Kristopher Smith
Project:
All They See is Red: How Redlining Affected Black Generational Wealth
Education:
Durham School of the Arts
Meet Our Team
The Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute is driven by a dedicated team of staff, administrators, instructors, interns, teaching assistants, mentors, and volunteers who support the growth and success of our scholars. Their collective expertise, passion, and commitment provide invaluable guidance throughout the program, fostering a nurturing environment for students to excel.
Below, you can explore the profiles of our team members to learn more about the people who help bring this program to life.
Institute Personnel
Alec Virgil
Role:
Cohort 1 Instructor
Institution:
Durham Public Schools
Amelie Novio
Role:
Research Intern
Catherine Kiplagat
Role:
Research Intern
Institution:
Duke University
Daniel Bullock
Role:
Durham Public Schools Program Liaison
Institution:
Executive Director for Equity Affairs at Durham Public Schools
Davis Harper
Role:
Cohort 1 Instructor
Institution:
Durham Public Schools
Genevieve Furges
Role:
Teaching Assistant
Institution:
Hollins University
Imari Smith
Role:
Cohort 3 Instructor
Institution:
Duke University
2023 Hank & Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Capstone
On July 31, 2023, the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University hosted its eighth annual Hank & Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Research Institute Capstone Conference. This event took place at the JB Duke Hotel where families, Duke faculty, and DPS teachers/officials gathered to engage with the scholars’ research.
The capstone keynote was given by Lauren Russell.
Capstone
Explore images from the Institute and Capstone Project Showcase.
