This is where the Urban Scholars Outreach program comes in. The volunteer program was started three years ago by USF professors Chris Tsokos and A.N. V. Rao to give minority students the basic math, reading and writing skills they need to succeed in school and make it to college. The program is open to any student in kindergarten-12th grade, but the vast majority of the participants are African American or Hispanic. Tsokos said this program has two unique components that set it apart from programs like it. One is that is strongly encourages parent participation.
Many parents bring their children and stay for the entire session.
Some even help out in the classroom. The other advantage is its strong mentor program in which some of USF's advanced undergraduate students meet on an individual basis with the scholars to encourage and motivate them. Christina Young is a junior at King High School. She wants to go to college, but she isn't very good at math. So, she spends her Saturdays in Rao's SAT class.