STACEY PLAISANCE / L’Observateur / March 29, 1999

GARYVILLE – Eighth-grader ShaKeila Bazile was recently awarded a scholarship to attend Xavier University’s summer BioStar program, prepping her for biology at the high school level.

Currently a student at Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School, ShaKeila willstudy biology in New Orleans this summer to boost her skills for classes at West St. John High School beginning in the fall.The BioStar program is made available to a select group of students who demonstrate academic excellence and dedication with a keen interest in maintaining high standards in education.

BioStar is one of several summer programs offered by Xavier, and ShaKeila said she hopes to participate in other programs in summers to come.

During BioStar, ShaKeila will be in class from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. for threeweeks through June and July. Math and science are among her favoritesubjects, and ShaKeila hopes to attend MathStar next summer, she said.

“I really like math and science because math is challenging, and science is different and interesting,” she said. “I really like doing scienceexperiments.”ShaKeila said her science class at Garyville Magnet has been working with the periodic table and the identification of elements. She cannot wait tobe exposed to more science this summer, she said.

Cost of the BioStar program is approximately $300, a fee wavered for ShaKeila by Xavier University. Other summer programs offered through theuniversity include MathStar, ChemStar, SuperScholar and Soar, which offers preparation in subjects such as physics, engineering, the humanities, law, medicine and computer science.

ShaKeila said she plans to attend college after high school graduation, though she does not yet know where.

An interest/aptitude survey conducted at the start of the year by Garyville Magnet revealed that ShaKeila demonstrates strength in the fields of business and marketing. These job fields are among several sheis considering to study in college, she said.

ShaKeila works as a receptionist for Garyville Magnet’s Timberwolves Academy of Co-workers. TAC is a school-to-work initiative which wasstarted this year for seventh- and eighth-grade students to acquire work experience while in school.

She is the daughter of and Karen and Kirk Scott of Vacherie and the late the late Ryan Bazile. She is the oldest child of three, with a younger sisterin the fourth grade at Garyville Magnet and a brother who attends the St.

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