DV freshman to attend Cambridge summer program

Desert Vista freshman Michelle Arnold, 14, will study abroad this summer at Cambridge University in England, and raised the $8,000 the program costs by winning scholarships and selling jewelry all on her own.

"When she first told me about the program I said, ‘Michelle, you know we can't afford this,'" Arnold's father, Kevin, said. "She said there was a scholarship available and I thought it would be good practice for college scholarship applications; I never expected her to get it. I was just shocked; I mean here's a freshman in high school who has a drive to do this."

Arnold won a $3,500 scholarship from the Oxford Academic Programs to attend the Cambridge Prep Experience, a program for students in eighth and ninth grade that offers a wide range of courses, including English literature, British history, global business, social psychology, photo journalism, mathematics and nature.

This year, Oxford Academic Programs awarded 20 full scholarships and 40 partial scholarships across all of their seven programs, director Carrie Angoff said. The total number of students participating in the programs will be around 1,350 students.

"After she got the scholarship she said, ‘How about if I raise the rest of the money,'" Kevin said. "She makes jewelry and she said she'd do babysitting, and we've had a huge response from it. Within three weeks she already had the rest of the money because people are just so generous."

Arnold said she wants to be a doctor, and indicated her interest in medical science on her application to the Cambridge program.

"They do a lot of stuff, but we really like to indulge the students in what they want to do," Dr. Dimon Dylton said. "There are a lot of extra curricular trips of cultural relevance, such as trips to museums and art galleries. They also play sports and games, like croquet and Frisbee, and take trips into the local countryside. They have dances, a cruise night and talent shows."

For more information, visit www.oxbridgebrograms.com.