Jasmine Freeman is a senior at Westlake High School. Her father is an Atlanta City firefighter which enabled Jasmine to participate in the Mayor’s Youth Program. She is a recipient of the Cooperative Development Energy Program (CDEP) Scholarship which provides full tuition for Fort Valley State for three years to major in mathematics and then two years at Georgia Tech to study Chemical Engineering. She says that her ultimate goal is to become an anesthesiologist but that she is considering becoming a chemical engineer.

Jasmine is receiving money towards her unmet needs including partial book fees and a transportation stipend and a laptop. She is currently working with the program to find an internship that will allow her to complete summer school as well.

“This is an excellent program – to know that the mayor is here for you when you don’t have the money it takes to go to college.”

Jasmine had the opportunity to travel to Africa this past year. She went to Arusha, Tanzania to build a solar cooker for a small village and took pencils and notebooks with her to donate to various schools and an orphanage. The trip was made possible trough Engineers Without Borders – USA, Georgia Tech, the National Society of Black Engineers and other corporate sponsors.

“It was a life changing experience to see what those students go through to get an education. Just getting pencils and notebooks made them excited.”

Jasmine Freeman is a 2008 graduating senior in the Mayor’s Youth Program.