John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Awards Museum of Discovery and Science $96,000 to Mentor At-Risk High School Students

Fort Lauderdale, June 29, 2004- The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded the Museum of Discovery and Science a two-year $96,000 grant to fund the Museum’s highly successful mentoring, internship program for at-risk high school students. Since 1992, the Museum has served dozens of low-income high schools students through its YATSEE (Youth Achievement Through Science Education and Employment) program.

YATSEE is a unique “earn-while-you-learn” intern/mentor program that teaches academic, social and employment skills to high school students (age 14-17) from high-risk communities in Broward County. Through mentoring, interns experience the relevance and importance of education in the job market, receive academic tutoring, develop employment skills, develop a sense of responsibility, and get counseling to help solve problems and plan for the future. Among high school students who have participated in the program, all of the students have graduated from high school and a majority of them have received college scholarships to prestigious universities such as Tulane and Colgate.

The two year award from the Knight Foundation will provide the opportunity for 10 new high school students from the 33311 zip code to participate in YATSEE during 2004 and 2005. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of 26 U.S. communities.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE
The mission of the Museum of Discovery and Science is to provide experiential pathways to lifelong learning in science for children and adults through programs, exhibits and films. Founded in 1976 as The Discovery Center, the nonprofit facility serves approximately 400,000 visitors each year.

The Museum is open seven days per week, Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m. with extended IMAX hours on Friday and Saturday evenings. General admission prices are $14.00 for adults; $13.00 for seniors and students; $12.00 for children 3 to 12. Children under 3 are free.

A General Admission Ticket includes admission to the Museum exhibits and one IMAX® film. The Museum of Discovery and Science is located downtown at 401 S.W. Second Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. For more information about the Museum, visitors should call (954) 467-MODS (6637).

Photo cut line from left to right: Former YATSEE intern Lucy Justilien, Suzette Prude of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Kim L. Cavendish CEO/ President of the Museum of Discovery and Science, and former YATSEE intern Tommy Miller.

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