Campus News
August 27th, 2024
TAY’s 2023-24 class enjoys banner year
Middle-schoolers excel in GC’s outdoors-focused initiative
TAY Coordinator Scott Richardson said this year’s cohort was “really exceptional”. Pictured, left to right, are (standing) Parker Jones, Audrey Smith, Malea Solmon, Byron Pickett, Tyrek Holliday, James Ford, Zach McAllister, Ares Holman, Landon Johnston, Kileian Collins, David Tressler, Britany Martin, (kneeling) Mariah Refosco, Mya Nichols, Roselyn Herbaugh Wolfe, and Lane Maust.
By virtually any measurable outcome, the 2023-24 Transition Age Youth (TAY) Program was a dramatic success.
TAY, open to middle-school students 13 and older, uses an outdoors-focused curriculum to support individual student growth, according to TAY Coordinator Scott Richardson. That growth is measured by key performance indicators that have been part of the program since its inception over 20 years ago.
“This year’s class had an overall group GPA (grade-point average) of 85 percent, which was the third-highest score over the past 20 years,” said Richardson of the 13-student cohort. “They had a participation rate of 86 percent, compared to a 73 percent average.”
Richardson said there was also “significant improvement” in teacher surveys for the group based on behaviors over the course of the school year.
“The group showed improvement in five of the seven categories covered by pre-and-post surveys,” said Richardson.
Richardson said the students also seemed to enjoy the activities, which included hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, white-water rafting, ski-snowboarding, and orienteering at local state parks. All 13 students who started the program last fall stayed in it through spring graduation.
“That was a tremendous accomplishment – having students commit and not drop out of the program, especially during busy spring school schedules,” said Richardson.
Richardson praised the efforts of the College’s partners in the program, which include staff at the local middle schools as well as the Garrett County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Authority.
“TAY is a wonderful program,” said Sadie Liller, coordinator of special programs with the Garrett County Health Department. “TAY provides students with skilled mentors that teach and guide them into making better choices while having a good time.”
“I’m always amazed to watch students change from those awkward days in October to the improvements observed in May in terms of self-confidence and supporting each other in positive manners,” said Richardson. “This year’s group was really exceptional.”
The next TAY class will begin in October.