Jalisa McQueen, a junior at Monroe High School, is one of only 40 students nationwide chosen to attend the University of California-Davis Young Scholars Program (UCD-YSP,) June 21-August 1.  In addition, she was offered a $6,000 scholarship for the program.

            “This is the premiere program of its type in the United States and Jalisa is so deserving of this honor.  During her summer vacation this year, she will have the same types of experiences that she would have during her first years of college,” said Monroe High School science teacher Kristen Hovest.

            The UCD-YSP is a summer residential research program design to expose 40 high-achieving high school students from across the country to the world of original research in the natural sciences.  The program has an emphasis on the biological, environmental and agricultural sciences.

            When in the program, Jalisa will work one-on-one with research faculty and research groups in state-of-the-art laboratories for six weeks.  She will work on an additional project and a journal-quality paper and symposium presentation about her work.  Besides the scientific research, the UCD-YSP strives to introduce participants to the climate and culture of living and working on a university campus.