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Middle School Program Teams Up With BGE To Expose Students To STEM Opportunities

WHITE MARSH, Md. (WJZ) -- A program to help low-income middle schoolers from the city get the grades needed to get into college took a field trip Monday.

As Mike Schuh reports, their classroom was a BGE training center.

It's a high-power demonstration for a group of city kids spending the summer learning.

"When I first started, my grades were real down and it brought me up real high...It felt like I made the right decision to pick the program," said Deon Sanders.

The program is Higher Achievement, Baltimore. About 170 limited income kids are being taught science, technology, math and science. They are being shown what opportunities are out there if their grades are good enough to get into a good high school and college.

"We are committed to providing them with rigorous academics, as well as exposing them to the opportunities that ensure that they are equipped to be strong and successful in life," said Erin Hodge-Williams, Higher Achievement, Baltimore.

Monday, they were exposed to BGE.  It's a field trip in what amounts to voluntary 5-day a week, 8 hours a day summer school.

"Higher Achievement was one of the best camps I saw online because I wanted to get help with my schoolwork because I need help with my reading and my vocabulary," said Maurice Stoval, middle schooler.

But the camp extends beyond school work and careers. Ask 13-year-old Davina Lindsay.

"When I write something or present something, I get so shy that after I write it I really don't want to present it. So I hope that Higher Achievement can rebuild my self-esteem and show the world what I can do," said Lindsay.

Higher Achievement says talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.  They are trying to bring the two together.

BGE also gave the Higher Achievement group a $20,000 check to support their efforts.

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