Schaumburg student joins American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer
Schaumburg, Ill.- August 9, 2012 - Lazy days at the beach, week long vacations with family, and three months of relaxation are how most teenagers spend their summer. Not for James B Conant High School junior Sasha Kuzura, 17, who is spending his summer conducting cancer research in a lab at Northwestern University. Kuzura is one of 35 students participating in the American Cancer Society's Summer High School Research Program.
The program, now in its tenth year, gives a diverse group of Illinois high school students the chance to spend eight weeks working with cancer researchers in the state's leading medical facilities. Of the 300 applicants, only 35 high school juniors were chosen to intern this summer with society-funded researchers and assist in hands-on work.
Created in 2003 by the Society's Illinois Board of Directors, the major objective of the program is to introduce students to scientific research, specifically cancer research to promote career opportunities and provide a research opportunity for those students would not otherwise have access to working in a lab. This extraordinary experience has encouraged and fostered an interest in research in the program's past 203 participants with 100% of the alumni attending college and 88% majoring in science or medicine.
“Many high school students are unaware of what scientific research entails. This program is a great way for students to learn about what happens in a lab and what aspect of science they might want to pursue,” said Elizabeth Jablonski, Director of Research at the American Cancer Society's Illinois Division.
Kuzura hopes this research experience will better prepare him for a future career in the medical field and has enjoyed working in the lab this summer.
“Even if I don't discover a cure, I will walk away this summer knowing that I have made a dent in the wall between humanity and the cure for cancer,” said Kuzura.
As part of this program, students are assigned individual projects to research four days a week. On the fifth day, the students gather at the Society's Illinois Division Offices to report on the progress of their research. At the end of the eight weeks, each of the students will write a ten page scientific paper and present a report of their findings at a recognition dinner. The 2012 recognition dinner will be held August 17th at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago as a special celebration of the 10th anniversary of the program. Guests will include alumni, students, parents, teachers, donors and board members.
The program has been supported through generous donors that have enabled the program to grow sevenfold since its inception in 2003. Gifts may be made payable to the American Cancer Society/SHSRP, 225. N. Michigan, Ste. 1200, Chicago, IL.
For over 60 years, the American Cancer Society has provided funding and training of health professionals to study how to prevent, detect and treat all cancer types, furthering the organization's goal of creating a world with more birthdays.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force with more than 100,000 volunteers in Illinois and millions elsewhere, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer, and countless more who have avoided it, will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more or get help, call us any time at
1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
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