UA News

Zona Zoo initiated an outreach program that involves middle school students and has begun offering merit and need-based scholarships to UA students.

Those behind The University of Arizona Zona Zoo student section are rounding out the program by including more outreach and academic-focused functions.

This fall, students who head up the Zona Zoo program introduced a number of initiatives – and intend to expand offerings during the spring semester – that seek to turn southern Arizona middle school students on to the idea of pursuing a higher education. In addition, the program will also provide merit and need-based scholarships to UA students.

"It was important to do this, and it's kind of a first of its kind that a student section would do something like this," said Charles Wollin, a UA theater arts senior and Zona Zoo media communications director.

"There is no limit to what Zona Zoo can do for students and for The University of Arizona," said Wollin, who is also an Honors College student.

"The spirit of the Wildcat is something the students really enjoy, and when they are able to share something so close to them and something they care about, that makes our student section even stronger and better," he added.

This fall, the Associated Students of The University of Arizona program launched its JuniorCats program pairing middle school students with UA students who are members of Zona Zoo.

To date, the program has drawn students who come mostly from an underserved school in South Tucson, said Christina Searby, the Zona Zoo liaison director and a mathematics junior.

"The importance of education in the world is incredible, and the need in Tucson is high right now," said Searby, also an Honors College student, who said the intention is to expand the program to include five schools during the spring semester.

As part of the JuniorCats program, and as though they were incoming Wildcats, the middle school students get tours of the University campus and athletics facilities. They also get an academic and career orientation and learn about the history and traditions of the University.

"We really wanted to promote the whole university experience," Searby said.

Zona Zoo has scheduled a reunion for its JuniorCats participants to be held in February and is also coordinating other events for the upcoming class of middle school students.

"The students get a lot of information about academics, but we thought the program would be more attractive to the students if we get into the spirit of the University but also involve them in academia – exposing them to a well rounded university experience," she said. "On the basic level, the program promotes the UA, but we are also getting the community involved in Zona Zoo."

The UA student run program, which maintains a membership base of about 12,000, has also began offering scholarships.

The first two offered were named after Erin A. Hertzog, a former UA student body president who is now the campus coordinator for the Arizona Students' Association.

"Erin Hertzog helped develop the Zona Zoo program into what it is today," said Nicholas Sproul, a Zona Zoo development director.

"She is always giving back to the students, so this is our way of helping others to remember the work she has done," said Sproul, who is also a senior studying sociology and physical education.

During the spring, Zona Zoo will begin offering its "sprit" scholarship to students who exhibit a commitment to leadership and academic success and who are also supporters of Arizona Athletics events.

"We want to offer students more than just an offer to go on a road trip or access to a game," Sproul said. Students have given a tremendous amount of support to Zona Zoo, he said, "that we wanted to be able to give back to them."