YES in THE HEIGHTS Joins NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium through Pinkerton Foundation Grant
YES in THE HEIGHTS, a summer program that offers high school and undergraduate students hands-on cancer research experience and personalized mentorship at Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC), has officially joined the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium (The Consortium). This partnership will further expand YES in THE HEIGHTS interns’ access to real-world STEM research thanks to support from The Pinkerton Foundation.
The Consortium unites local universities, museums, and research centers under a common goal: connecting underrepresented NYC high school students with real-world STEM research opportunities. Providing participating students with an entry point into a citywide network of labs and mentors, it also gives philanthropic partners a platform to strengthen youth STEM education and internship access across many institutions.
The Pinkerton Foundation serves as the Consortium’s lead financial supporter, providing vital backing for infrastructure while directly funding individual member programs as they join and scale. Pinkerton’s investment of $50,000 increases YES in THE HEIGHTS’ training capacity for promising high school students. Supporting a high school researcher costs roughly $6,000 per summer to cover hourly pay, research supplies, and technology. Over two immersive summers, participants shadow leading oncologists, tackle pressing topics like cancer healthcare disparities, and explore future STEM career paths. With Pinkerton’s generous support, the program can meet the growing student demand and continue its core mission to inspire and grow the next generation of healthcare and scientific research leaders.
The YES in THE HEIGHTS program, which has mentored nearly 100 students over its first decade, has left a mark beyond just the summer. One student published original research on improving scientific visuals to communicate disease prevention messages. Another built a visual learning tool designed to help patients navigate initial cancer care appointments. The program’s long-term impact is equally strong: 100% of high school participants have gone on to attend college, and every undergraduate YES scholar has pursued either graduate education or a career in science, with alumni now working at leading organizations such as Pfizer and Gilead Sciences.
With the Consortium partnership and The Pinkerton Foundation’s support, YES in THE HEIGHTS is accelerating its transformative model of mentorship to even more students across New York City. Jasmine McDonald, PhD, faculty lead for YES in THE HEIGHTS and co-associate director for education and training at the HICCC, notes that the program provides a critical service to young people in the surrounding area. “Pathway programs like YES in THE HEIGHTS offer students spaces where they feel they belong, which is essential to diversifying the workforce,” says McDonald. “Mentoring these students ensures they gain career experience early and see themselves thriving in spaces like Columbia.”