The University Of Utah: Sixth Graders Experience Their Dream Careers At Imagine U Day

Salt Lake City UT

31 May, 2022

3:19 PM

Description

Press release from The University of Utah: May 26, 2022 University of Utah Health (U of U Health) and University Neighborhood Partners have partnered with Whittier Elementary in West Valley City to pilot a new catered career experience for local sixth graders. Launched on May 25, the program, "Imagine U Day," aimed to illustrate to the nearly 70 students that a secondary education is obtainable when they follow their passions. Imagine U Day is a multi-year initiative that aims to facilitate engagement and build lasting partnerships with students, parents and educators at schools near the future University of Utah hospital and health campus in West Valley City. During the preceding weeks, Whittier students wrote essays on what they would like to be when they grow up. The major employment themes from the essays helped event organizers determine the six career experiences scheduled across the U campus. Like West Valley City, Whittier Elementary has a minority-majority student population, with close to 40% of students identifying as Hispanic or Latino. According to RyLee Curtis, public engagement manager for U of U Health, the new hospital will care for residents from childhood to old age. "As part of that effort, U of U Health and University Neighborhood Partners are working to build lasting partnerships with schools in the community." For Whittier Elementary School Principal Jennifer Bodell, Imagine U day presented a unique opportunity to encourage her students to think about college. "As a new principal I'm constantly imagining new and improved ways to spark an interest in my students to further their educations and open unique opportunities," said Bodell. "When I connected with the team from U of U Health and University Neighborhood Partners, a wide world of connections opened for these students." "I'm compiling a growing list of ideas to improve this program so more students can participate and make it the event all my students think about and say, 'I can't miss out on Imagine U day!'" Curtis said the university will build on the first Imagine U day as the relationship between the university and the West Valley City community evolves. "On behalf of the team of organizers I want to express just how rewarding and how much fun everyone had hosting these students," said Curtis. "We are thankful to have a partner in Principal Bodell, who's enthusiasm, passion and drive are infectious. As the University of Utah's West Valley City campus project unfolds we plan to expand Imagine U Day and include more schools and communities in the area for years to come." Learn more about each career experience below, click the images to enlarge. This press release was produced by The University of Utah. The views expressed here are the author's own.