Berkeley Daily Planet -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 8/22/2006
Last Visited: 10/25/2006
"The grant is indicative of Bayer's continued support to fund students who are economically backward," said Deborah Bellush, Executive Director of Biotech Partners."We hope others will take this as an example of how companies can partner with us to contribute towards education as well as the community and in the process have a pool of work-ready skilled employees to hire."
Bellush added that when Bayer founded the 30-year development agreement with the city in 1993 to set up the biotech facility, the community had wanted to know what the city would get from this partnership.
"Bayer being a German Company emphasized the hands-on training that students would get out of this program," she said."They especially wanted to target a certain population, such as students who are not on the four-year college track, students of color and also women.What was developed was a curriculum in high school and community college which would provide hands-on on-the-job training as well as a paid summer internship for those who were eligible for it."
Students from Berkeley High School and Oakland's Life Academy are recruited by Biotech Staff in their sophomore year.
"We visit English classes, science classes, talk to counselors and parents at Berkeley High School," Bellush said."A lot of students get to know about this program through word of mouth.At the Life Academy, students who join our program are mostly those who are interested in health sciences."
Bellush added that after completing high school, students who were enrolled in the program could go on to a four-year college, a community college or attend the Bio-Science Career Institute at Laney college that is part of the program.