Dare to Dream Academy brings migrant students to WSU Health Sciences Spokane

When one thinks about “summer camp,” they might think of children heading to the woods, sleeping in cabins and paddling in a canoe. At WSU Health Sciences Spokane, summer camps take on a different meaning—one where high school students of different backgrounds are given the opportunity to explore careers in the health sciences.

One of those opportunities was the Dare to Dream Health Sciences Academy.

From June 23 – 29, 23 high-achieving migrant high school scholars from Central and Eastern Washington attended an interprofessional immersion experience with an eye toward pursuing careers in the health sciences. During the week, the scholars leveraged previous lived experiences and newly acquired knowledge to offer solutions toward improving health care in Washington.

During the seven-day event, the scholars were inspired to honor their cultures, expand their interest in a health profession and pursue college. The WSU Health Sciences Spokane campus is an ideal setting, as it houses WSU’s colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, allowing Dare to Dream scholars ample opportunity to explore multiple programs and departments within each college. Guided by current faculty, staff and students, Dare to Dream participants were exposed to an interdisciplinary approach to health care.

All attendees will be juniors or seniors in high school this fall and developed individual academic plans to navigate their upcoming school year(s) and requirements for higher education, specifically for health sciences education programs. They also learned how they can receive continued assistance with financial aid and mentoring as they approach their post-high school years.

Dare to Dream included more than 60 hours of case-based learning, academic and career planning, cultural affirmation and research presentations.

WSU’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine developed the Dare to Dream as part of the Columbia Basin Pathway, in partnership with WSU Health Sciences Spokane, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Migrant Education Program, and the Association of Washington State Principals. There are several Dare to Dream academies across Washington State held at regional universities.