TULSA -- Tulsa high school students are leaving their traditional classrooms behind and immersing themselves into the community in a new program called Tulsa Term.
A dozen students were chosen from a mix of public and private high schools in Tulsa.
"We wanted the students to feel like they’re part of the program, not at their individual schools, they’re creating something new," said Jane Beckwith, Co-founder and Co-director of Tulsa Term.
The brand new program allows students to learn about real issues like public healthcare gaps, food deserts, and how Tulsa's past lays the groundwork for future opportunities.
"We don’t really feel like kids here, you feel like you’re accomplishing a lot, getting work done, just like a lot of other people in their field of work," said Evelyn Alvarez, a junior at Webster and Tulsa Term participant.
Alvarez says she applied to the program to be in a more hands-on learning environment.
"I want to be a naval officer and engineer so I think this is helping me with working in a team," said Alvarez.
The students are spending some time at City Hall, but mostly traveling around landmarks in Tulsa to research the city's history.
"Greenwood, and the Council Oak Tree, and 4th and Boston, is kind of our hubs where we’re looking at what are our origins, how did Tulsa begin?" said Beckwith.
Students receive credit in history, science, English, and math. The three schools involved this year are Holland Hall, Webster, and Booker T. Washington, but Tulsa Term leaders hope to expand in the future.
"They’re part of something bigger and this really will reveal to them that the real world is now and they are in it and of it and they can make meaning and help other people," said Beckwith.
Tulsa students can visit the Tulsa Term website to apply for the Spring 2020 semester.
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