Dear College Admissions Officer:

The Howard County Public Schools Gifted and Talented Intern/Mentor

program allows a group of select students to conduct research in areas of
personal interest. Students conduct their work at a site outside the school
under the direction of experts located by the resource teacher. Students
must be selected to participate in the Intern/Mentor program. They apply
during their junior year, where the application process includes a review of
grades, attendance records, teacher references, and a personal interview.
The students must have demonstrated that they are independent, motivated
learners and can work in an advanced learning environment. Throughout this
program, students compile research, write extended papers, make oral
presentations, produce research abstracts, compile annotated bibliographies,
and produce visual presentations as part of this program.
The mentor program allows the students to conduct research in areas
of personal interest. Students conduct their work at a site outside the school
under the direction of experts located by the resource teacher. Mycah Berson
is working with the athletic trainer, Katie Cicia, at River Hill High School.
Mycah is learning treatment and interventions for different sports injuries
within a high school setting. Mycah is also gaining first-hand experience by
assisting Ms. Cicia with daily injuries and recovery exercises. She also
accompanies Ms. Cicia at a variety of sporting events. During practices and
games, Mycah is directly involved in attending to injured athletes. The help
and expertise of Ms. Cicia, as well as Mycahs research, have given her a
newfound understanding into the field of athletic training and the beneficial
impact the career has on the community. By mid-year Mycah will have
identified an aspect of her internship to pursue independently. The academic
nature of the mentorship also requires Mycah to complete assignments such
as project proposals, oral presentations, research abstracts, annotated
bibliographies, news clips, and research papers.
The Mentor Program is designed for students who have already
demonstrated
independent
thinking,
perseverance,
curiosity,
and
ambitiousness. Mycah was selected to participate in this program and has
prospered both on-site and in the classroom; thus I believe Mycah will thrive
in a competitive college or university setting because of her maturity,
extraordinary talents, strong work ethic, and the richness of her personal
experiences.
Sincerely,
_______________________________________

Mary Jane Sasser

Gifted and Talented Education Resource Teacher
River Hill High School
12101 Route 108
Clarksville, MD 21029