Introducing the 2024 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 maternal mortality to food disparities, 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
Amanitore Truitt (Visiting Scholar)
Project:
No Man Left Behind: The Correlation Between Literacy Rates and Incarceration
Education:
Sophomore at Durham Academy
Amaya Garcia-Clough
Project:
Decreasing Maternal Mortality in South Sudan
Education:
Junior at Northern High School
America Barrera
Project:
Central American Immigrant Students and Higher Education
Education:
Senior at Riverside High School
Bernadine Dela Pena
Project:
The Mental Health Effects of the “Model Minority” Myth among Asian Americans in the U.S. Education System
Education:
Sophomore at Riverside High School
Camren Pierce
Project:
The Lack of Representation of African American and Hispanic Doctors in the U.S.
Education:
Junior at Durham School of the Arts
Celine Gamino
Project:
Bias in Generative AI: A manifestation of Stereotyped Data
Education:
Sophomore at Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School
Cole Jones
Project:
Shortcomings in the Criminal Justice System: An Analysis of Incarceration and Recidivism
Education:
Junior at Middle College High School at Durham Technical Community College
Dante Lawson
Project:
Addressing the Crisis: A Look at Black Mortality Rates Through Equitable Healthcare
Education:
Junior at Northern High School
Cohort 2
Leander Shindell
Project:
Coastal Gentrification and Rising Sea Levels: Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems and the Services they Provide
Education:
Durham School of the Arts
Capstone Presentation
Maira Magwene Muñiz
Project:
Cultural Sovereignty: How Artifact Repatriation Policies Affect Indigenous Communities in the U.S.
Education:
Senior at Charles E. Jordan High School
Matthias Mathieu
Project:
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Food Access: Evaluating SNAP and Food Insecurity in America Through a Human Rights Framework
Education:
Northern Durham High School
Maxwell Guo
Project:
Out House and Home: Why Homeownership Is Not The Path To Wealth Equality in The US
Education:
Durham School of Arts
Mirian Masamba
Project:
In Sickness and in Wealth: The Impact of Corporate Greed in Pharmaceutical Companies on Patients and Health Outcomes
Education:
City of Medicine Academy
Olaitan Ajasa
Project:
Listen to our Black Mothers: Social Stigmas in African American Maternal Health
Education:
Sophomore at Durham School of the Arts
Ty’Mir Bass
Project:
How does Structural Racism Effects on Environmental and Health
Education:
Junior at City of Medicine Academy
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
Catherine Kiplagat
Role:
Cohort 1 Teaching Assistant
Institution:
Duke University
Genevieve Furges
Role:
Cohort 2 Teaching Assistant
Institution:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Iwinosa Idahor
Role:
Co-Program Liaison
Institution:
Student Equity, Engagement and Opportunity Coordinator with Durham Public Schools
Jaelyn Nixon
Role:
Cohort 2 Instructor
Institution:
Duke University
Jahara Davis
Role:
Cohort 1 Instructor
Institution:
Durham Public Schools
Jenny Uba
Role:
Cohort 1 Teaching Assistant
2024 Hank & Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Capstone Conference
During the Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute, students receive instruction from distinguished teachers, university professors, and leaders from community organizations. The program’s main focus is on the development of the students’ research, writing, presentation, and critical-inquiry skills, culminating in a capstone presentation of students’ individual or group research projects. The capstone took place during the evening of August 05, 2024 at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham, North Carolina.
Capstone
Explore images from the Institute and Capstone Project Showcase.
