Zachary Blizzard
Project:
How Voter Identification Laws Disenfranchise Minorities
Education:
Junior at Durham School of the Arts
The Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute is a program that provides high school students enrolled in Durham Public Schools (DPS) with training to enhance their writing, research, and presentation skills. The program is sponsored by the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University in partnership with Durham Public Schools (DPS). In keeping with the Samuel DuBois Cook Center’s central mission as a community of scholars engaged in the study of the causes and consequences of inequality, program participants explore curriculum related to the economic, social, and political dimensions of inequality.
We will be accepting and reviewing applications in 2025.
Please fill out the link below, and if you have any questions, please email Program Coordinator Ms. Kennedy Ruff at kennedy.ruff@duke.edu.
How Voter Identification Laws Disenfranchise Minorities
Junior at Durham School of the Arts
The Disparities of Socioeconomic Status & Its Effects on Mental Development in Children
Senior at Durham School of the Arts
As the STEAM Rises: How the Downfall of Arts Education in the U.S. Impacts the Field of Engineering
Senior at Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School
Stereotypes and Authenticity in Black Cinema: Analyzing Representation Through Historical and Contemporary Lenses
Junior at Durham School of the Arts
Prescription for Prejudice: How Health Care Bias and Discrimination Affect LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Individuals
Senior at Insight Colearning Center
Racial Disparities in Maternal Health: How Can Medical Training and Racial Awareness Create Change for Black Women Experiencing
Sophomore at City of Medicine Academy
Differences in Lifetime Income for Post-Secondary Education Attainment by Race
Senior at Northern Durham High School
Cultural Sovereignty: How Artifact Repatriation Policies Affect Indigenous Communities in the U.S.
Senior at Charles E. Jordan High School
Listen to our Black Mothers: Social Stigmas in African American Maternal Health
Sophomore at Durham School of the Arts
Cohort 1 Intern
Duke University
Cohort 2 Intern
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Co-Program Liaison
Student Equity, Engagement and Opportunity Coordinator with Durham Public Schools
Jaelyn Nixon is a Teaching Assistant for the Spring 2024 Global Inequality Research Initiative (GIRI) course, “Gender and Development”. Nixon is a 4th year PhD candidate in the joint Public Policy and Psychology Program. She is particularly interested in the covert ways that discriminatory practices evolve and produce racial inequities in education. More specifically, she is interested in the social and academic costs that K-12 students are burdened with as a result of biased education policies and larger societal norms.
Additionally, she participated in the 2024 Hank & Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Research Institute as a Cohort 2 Instructor.
Durham Public Schools
Cohort 1 Instructor
Cohort 1 Teaching Assistant
“It was a total success and I know that the Young Scholars are motivated to become activist and change agents for social justice. Thank you again for this amazing program.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
“I enjoyed being in the 3rd year cohort and digging deeper into my topic. I also appreciate working with all of the teachers and staff of the institute."
Aaron Young Scholar
“Keep up the great work. You are creating future leaders who will understand the key issues impacting our community.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
“Although hesitant at first, my student thoroughly enjoyed himself, and he was excited to tell us about his daily work and learned information that is helpful to him. He was nervous about presenting, however he became more confident and did well.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
“My favorite part of the institute was watching the change in the depth of conversation with my student.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
It was really important to me that I finished the Social Equity Program and through your help, I was able to do so. This program has taught me so much and has even played a major impact on my future career goals.
Aaron Young Scholar
“I enjoyed hearing from everyone [at the Capstone] and the topics are all relevant and timely.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
“The teachers and staff are supportive and transparent. The village concept is working!”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
My student blossomed under tutelage received. The boost to their confidence and ability to work with like minded young people has made for a wondrous experience. Thank you, for your efforts and commitment. These students benefited and our community will continue to benefit.
Aaron Young Scholar Parent