Law College's Project SOAR lifts at-risk youth to new heights

The grant, awarded by the Court's Juvenile Justice Services Division, will be used to fund a replication of Project SOAR.

Project SOAR, ( Student Opportunity for Academic Renewal), was initiated four years ago by the University of Arizona's College of Education. Regina Serrano, Project SOAR director, said the program began in order to give education majors more experience with children.

The project pairs UA students with at-risk youth attending elementary, middle and high schools in the community. UA students work one-on-one with the youth as mentors.

"Our college mentors helped at-risk kids with their schoolwork, but they also helped them realize someone else truly cared about them and where they go in life," Serrano said in a press release.

Presently, the College of Education's SOAR program includes 95 students attending nine schools in three districts.

In contrast, the College of Law's SOAR program will pair 20 at-risk youth from Amphitheater Middle School with 20 UA law students.

The College of Law applied for a grant from the state after hearing about Project SOAR and a partnership opportunity with Amphitheater Middle School, said Willie Jordan-Curtis, the law school's assistant dean for student affairs.

Jeff Nadler, program specialist for Arizona Supreme Court's juvenile justice division, said his department received several applications and decided to award money to the law school because the program was "something unique."

"It seemed like a good avenue to educate students, (and would help) the most kids for the least amount of money."

"(This money is) seed money to get the project started," Nadler said.

Jordan-Curtis said the law school's Project SOAR will be set up like an internship and will be highly structured.

UA law students will get paid for taking part in SOAR, and they will go through extensive, continuous training to help them deal with at-risk youth.

In order for a student to be considered for the law school's Project SOAR, they must have experience with youth issues and an interest in youth advocacy programs, Jordan-Curtis said.

Peri Radicec, the student coordinator at the law school, said law students wanting to become involved with Project SOAR need to apply by Aug. 20 and must be in good standing. Radicec and Curtis-Jordan will be selecting the students who will take part in the program.

John Gibson, the principal from Amphitheater Middle School, said the program will be a positive influence on at-risk middle school students. It is good for Amphi's students to have contact with college students because they serve as good role-models and give students something to aspire to, he said.