30 UNC students admitted to Teach for America program

A group of UNC students will soon be assigning homework and handing out gold stars across the country.

After the first round of admissions to the Teach for America program, 30 UNC students found out Wednesday their future school placements for the 2012-13 school year.

Jacquelyn Gist, coordinator for Teach For America at UNC, said the number of students admitted this year is relatively high in this round, especially in comparison to other schools in the country.

Gist said UNC has one of the highest acceptance rates for the program among other universities.

She said by the end of the full process last year, 80 students from UNC were accepted into the program.

The Teach For America corporation allows college graduates to spend two years teaching in underserved schools around the country.

While the organization provides participants a guaranteed job, Gist said it’s a misconception that UNC students use the program as an easy route to employment.

“A lot of people say ‘Oh, it’s because of the economy,’ but the application process is competitive and Teach For America is really hard to get into,” she said.

Rick Ingram, an economics and political science major, said he will be a high school math teacher in Denver, Colo., next year.

“We’re at a point in American history where American education is unequal,” Ingram said.

“I want everyone to have the opportunity that I had in being able to go to college, and I thought Teach For America would help me do that.”

Ian Lee, business administration major and member of The Daily Tar Heel editorial board, said he wants the opportunity to make changes in inner-city schools.

“I think TFA will open my eyes to an entirely different environment and give me a broader perspective on what teachers go through on a day-to-day basis,” said Lee, who will be teaching math in Memphis, Tenn.

Carly Buch, environmental studies and public policy major and future science teacher in Denver, Colo., said she always wanted to be a teacher and was encouraged to apply by friends who had gone through the program.

“This will be my first time in a classroom so I have a lot to learn.”

The next application deadline is Jan. 6. Visit teachforamerica.org for more information.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.