Journalism Next / Bayshore High School: Taking it to next level
MANATEE -- Bayshore High School students in the Advancement Via Individual Determination organization made their way March 10 to Gainesville for the annual college tour trip.
AVID students started by taking a private tour of the University of Florida campus. They then traveled to Jacksonville and toured Santa Fe, the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University over two days.
After the tours were complete, AVID students were treated to two days of fun.
Students went to the mall March 12 and spent the next day bowling for some competitive fun followed by free time at the hotel.
They headed for Orlando the morning of March 14 for a day at Disney World and then home later that day.
"The AVID college tour trip shows you that there is so much more out there than just Bradenton," senior Patrick Sheedy said.
Patrick said he's gone on past college tours, which included visits to Florida State University, Flagler College, Florida A&M University, Kennesaw (Ga.) State University and Georgia State University, among others.
AVID is designed to close the achievement gap and place students on the college readiness path academically and personally.
A team of teacher and administrator volunteers work the AVID program.
Of 131 students in the Bayshore AVID program, 40 went on the college tour this year. AVID students at Bayshore High embark on a college tour every March.
The college tours are self-funded. AVID students hold fundraising events or participate in activities to help raise money.
"The trip was awesome," said Angelia Gilley, Bayshore AVID coordinator.
Gilley has the daunting task of organizing the college tours each year.
"Exposing the students to post-secondary educational choices is always a good thing," Gilley said. "That's what AVID is all about -- preparing the students who have the drive to pursue a college degree, map out their future and be positive role models."
AVID teacher and BHS graduate Karise McNenney said the tour was well organized this year. She has served as a chaperone on several tours.
"This was my first year as the actual teacher and I felt great about that," said McNenney, an AVID tutor for several years. "I feel that the students bonded more with other grades then in the past."
The trip is a good way to get students to think about their futures and get them excited for college, officials said.
"It wasn't what I expected," junior Valerie Russo said. "This was my first year going and it was better than what I expected because we got to experience how college students live and go to school and that was pretty cool."
The tour was widely enjoyed, students said, and definitely one to remember.
This story was originally published March 29, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Journalism Next / Bayshore High School: Taking it to next level ."