FSCJ GRADS Youth Employment summer intern presents findings to sociologists' annual meeting

Read "Budding sociologist sees hope in overlooked area," from the Florida Times-Union.

Roderick Pearson took on a summer internship with University of North Florida's Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives. The internship was arranged through Florida State College at Jacksonville's * GRADS (Gaining Resources and Developing Skills), a college preparation  program for high school juniors and seniors. In his internship, Pearson reviewed and updated a sociology study done in 2006-2007. His leader, UNF Professor Jeffry Will, was impressed with the results--so much so that he submitted Pearson's paper to the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociologists. The result was pretty amazing for a 16-year-old GRADS student. 

*The GRADS program includes SAT preparation, career preparation workshops, resume writing and interviewing skills and techniques, career and personal counseling, finance management and college tours. GRADS is a cooperative program with the Florida Department of Education, the Duval County School Board and local businesses. It helps students discover the value of education, assists them in preparing to enter the workforce, and offers support and motivation to pursue their personal and educational goals. For more information about GRADS visit http://www.fscj.edu/mydegree/pre-college/index.php.