Two prospective education majors and members of the UD Class of 2017 chat with Riley O’Brien during Destination Delaware. Two hundred future Blue Hens found their way to campus on Sunday April 7th for a fast-paced, over night adventure that sealed the deal for many of the pre-freshmen. ASPIRE leaders were on hand to welcome students to campus on Sunday and during a parting luncheon on Monday April 8th. 
On Wednesday, March 20th, Arpita, Kevin, Ellie and Kelsey, telephoned telephone approximately 100 students who received letters this week from UD admissions indicating that they have seats in the fall 2013 freshman class, and that they have been admitted as teacher education majors. The busy high school seniors who were contacted were excited and eager to learn more about the University of Delaware. The ASPIRE callers described the school’s climate as active and very busy with TONS of clubs, opportunities to travel, and many, many special interest communities such as ASPIRE to join. Some parents intercepted the calls, and they seemed equally excited, with many indicating an interest in visiting the campus again during Destination Delaware. ASPIRE will host a table on Sunday April 7 from 6:00-7:00pm in Trabant to welcome families who attend Destination Delaware.
On Monday, February 11, Kevin Nai and Arpita Mandal led a spirited discussion of the mission and activities of ASPIRE. The organization welcomed six new students. All the new faces are freshmen!! Twenty continuing members attended the opening meeting and supported Kevin and Arpita in describing the ASPIRE work on campus and in local schools, including officers elect Lorene, Tatiana, Kerianne, Camille, Conor, and Gemelle. The group enjoyed an unscheduled and inspirational treat, as ASPIRE welcomed Renatae Cuffee, the North East Region’s student representative to the national board of the National Education Association (NEA). Renatae inspired us with a short video presentation on the work of the national student organization, which she described as very much like what ASPIRE is doing on campus and in our local community. The one activity featured in the video clip that captured some passion among ASPIRE members was the gathering of student members of NEA to complete a “school makeover” in selected cities around the country…now that is a spring break worth planning!!
On November 30, Newark and Cab Calloway high school students celebrated with their ASPIRE mentors to close a successful fall semester. The party was held in one of the Trabant Center meeting rooms. The high school students were very proud to share poster sized copy of the handouts that they used in introducing their learning skills workshops to their peers at Newark High School. Kayla Griffin, pictured third from left, joined the Newark students during the summer to help them develop messaging and images to launch the ASA club. Kayla is a sophomore at Cab Calloway, a local high school for the arts. 
The ASPIRE mentors were especially pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the high school students to the next group of ASPIRE leaders. UD teacher education majors, Tatiana Burgess and Gemelle John, joined the ASA support team at the beginning of the fall semester, and both are assuming leadership roles in ASPIRE and will serve as officers-elect in spring 2013.
Lorene McCoy and Camille Fontenelle have also accepted spring 2013 leadership roles in ASPIRE. Stay tuned in January for a full introduction of the 2013-14 leadership team.
Good luck with exams, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!!!!
On October 16th, ASPIRE leaders Sai Gajjala and Arpita Mandal, presented a very interesting talk on using technology to support teaching and learning. Their Beyond Powerpoint message was well received by the group, which had a lively conversation about appropriate uses of social media to engage students. …just imagine having Abe Lincoln, Fred Douglass and the Civil War generals interacting on a “faux” Facebook page… now that might get an 8th grader interested in the day-to-day lives of 19th century Americans…who says there are no new tricks?
Great Job Sai and Arpita!!
On October 10, at the first workshop of the year, ASPIRE President, Katie Kull, opened a conversation with a provocative question: Where do you want to teach? She used the question to guide the session that focused on comparing teaching and learning conditions in public urban/suburban, rural, and private schools.
Katie had the group vote at the beginning and end of the session on their preference. More participants voted positively for working in urban/suburban environments after reviewing data on the emerging availability of resources and opportunities to make substantive positive change in schools that enroll students who face challenges in succeeding in their educational lives. Among the resources noted were the growing engagement of the community and opportunities to work with more highly qualified colleagues.
Participants shared their own experiences in working with high needs students and much of the discussion referenced work on the positive impact of building community among students and providing them opportunities to interact with role models. Video clips highlighted important work that is underway at San Francisco State University to mobilize stakeholders who want to change the status quo. The conversation was lively and thought-provoking. Several new-to-ASPIRE upper class students noted afterwards that they wish they had gotten involved in ASPIRE earlier.
Great Job Katie!
The ASPIRE community gathered on Monday 9/17 at 7pm to welcome new members and rekindle continuing bonds. Officers Katie, Ellenie, Sai, Kevin and Arpita gave an overview of the organization’s mission and the fall semester program plan. Twenty-five new students have completed membership forms for fall 2012, ASPIRE membership is now at an all time high of 79 active members.
In addition to outlining a very interesting meeting agenda that includes sessions on Teaching in Different Environments, Teaching with Technology, Classroom Management, and Planning Ahead to Get Employment in Your Field, the Officers generated a lot of excitement during their presentation on this year’s service project. ASPIRE will launch All Students Aspire (ASA), a peer academic leadership program for high school students, at Newark High School in mid-October.
The immediate past president of ASPIRE, Quindara Lazenbury, sat front and center during the meeting to cheer the new leaders forward. As is her style, Quindara gave each one a special hug, at the end of the meeting.
ATTEND ASPIRE’S WELCOME BACK MEETING!
When? Monday, September 17th
Where? Sharp Rm. 100
Time? 7pm
COME OUT, MEET SOME NEW PEOPLE, AND LEARN ABOUT THE AMAZING THINGS ASPIRE HAS TO OFFER 
Like! Our Page: http://www.facebook.com/UDASPIRE
Never Give It A Rest*Until Your Good is Your Better*And Your Better is Your Best
Congratulations ASPIRE Summer Research Fellows: Katie Kull, Sai Gajjala and Kevin Nai. Their presentation on August 9th concluded the first phase of the launch of the new ASA program for high school student academic leaders at Newark High School.
All Students Aspire: Peer Learning Strategies to Improve Efficacy
The Newark HS students will share their work with their peers through three workshops: 1)Time Management, 2) Note-taking, 3)Study Strategies. These sessions were developed with support from the ASPIRE research team and will be conducted at the high school as gatherings of students who are approved as peer tutors to meet students who want to improve their academic profiles in various courses.
The undergraduates’ summer research focused on strategies for improving self-regulated learning, and their work with the high school students students challenged them to shape practices consistent with the ideas of theorists who advocate the importance of the development of personal confidence and efficacy.
