Lake County Gazette

A partnership between Westminster Public Schools and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has enabled students and teachers to participate directly in cancer research. The initiative, known as the START (Students and Teachers Achieving Research Together) pilot program, was discussed at a recent Westminster Public Schools Board of Education meeting.

The summer internship involved two Westminster High School students, Leslie Vargas Cabrera and Rogelio Lopez Beltran, along with their teacher Scott Troy from Ranum Innovation Campus. They worked with clinicians from the Department of Neurosurgery at CU Anschutz to study chordoma, a rare form of cancer affecting the skull base and spine. Their research focused on how tumor cells interact with the immune system in hopes of improving treatment options. At the conclusion of the program, participants presented their findings during a research poster session at CU Anschutz.

Leslie Vargas Cabrera described her experience: “This program opened my eyes to a whole new world of cancer research. I would highly recommend it to future students because it not only prepares them for careers in science but also gives teachers new tools to bring back to their classrooms.”

Rogelio Lopez Beltran shared similar sentiments: “I got to dive into cancer research hands-on and really understood how challenging and exciting this field is,” he said. “It confirmed that I want to pursue science as a career. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

Scott Troy noted that the experience surpassed his expectations: “It wasn’t simulated or ‘stand to the side and watch,’ it was very much ‘do the actual research,’” he told the board.

The START pilot was supported by a grant aimed at expanding participation throughout Denver Metro area schools in future years.

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 serves Lake County schools such as Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School, Carman-Buckner Elementary School, Clearview Elementary School, Daniel Webster Middle School, Early Learning Center, Glen Flora Elementary School, Glenwood Elementary School, Greenwood Elementary School, H.R. McCall Elementary School, Hyde Park Elementary School, Jack Benny Middle School, John S. Clark Elementary School, Little Fort Elementary School, Lyon Magnet Elementary School, Miguel Juarez Middle School, North Elementary School, Oakdale Elementary School, Robert E. Abbott Middle School, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Washington Elementary School, Waukegan High School and Whittier Elementary School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district’s student population is composed of 3.2 percent White students, 13.2 percent Black students, 79.5 percent Hispanic students and 1.3 percent Asian students (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data for Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 there are 1,014 teachers earning an average salary of $63,524 before pension contributions; women make up about 71 percent of staff while men account for nearly 29 percent; no teachers had more than ten absences in one school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020 spending per student was $23,429 for a total expenditure of $359 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).