The Brain Expansions Scholastic Training (B.E.S.T.) Program is an innovative, multifaceted, educational enrichment program that focuses on mentorship and enhancement of marginalized youth in East Tampa sector of Hillsborough County. This program targets youth from the 5th through the 12th grades who are at risk of educational failure, teen pregnancy, obesity, truancy and drug abuse.

These teens and pre-teens live in underserved communities where there are disparities in health care, economics and education. This program is designed to culture interest and allow exposure to science, technology and health. It is hoped this exposure will encourage participants to pursue further studies in the above mentioned fields and ultimately give back to their community.

The overall goal of the B.E.S.T. Program, through, exciting and interesting learning activities, is to introduce these young men and women to the health sciences professions, teach healthy living, and develop creative thinking skills. These programs are geared to stimulate creativity, build self esteem and help students discover their natural talents. Brain Expansions eventually would like the participant to see there is hope and a future ahead through continuing their education and making good choices.

The three components of B.E.S.T. are Magical Memory sessions, Chess Club sessions and Teen Club Med sessions. Memory is the stepping stone that will enable students to think, conceptualize, reason and make better decisions. As students learn strategies to enhance their memory, they will be able to attain more information in less time. Observational skills improve, giving each individual an awareness of his or her learning style.

The chess club component of B.E.S.T. incorporates game skills and learning skills and logic. Chess playing fosters inventive problem solving and complex pattern recognition. Students learn while playing this age old game.

Teen Club Med sessions consist of dynamic hands-on activities that will help nurture an interest in personal health and the health of the community. It improves academic readiness for health career programs using a math and science enrichment curriculum tailored for middle and high school students. These activities include science experiments, health related educational games and visits to health care facilities where participants can see first hand health care professionals at work.

Teens in the B.E.S.T. program will be given opportunities to work together. This approach will develop a general appreciation and understanding for how individuals can differ in attitudes, abilities and still make contributions to their project.

Students, who have successfully completed the B.E.S.T. program, will be given a Certificate of Achievement in Chess, Memory Enhancement and Medical Careers Awareness. These awards will be given out at a special graduation ceremony where, city council personnel, parents and all program staff will be invited to attend.

Lastly, there will be a concerted effort to encourage every child who has gone through Brain Expansions to stay connected with the organization and give back to the organization in the form of tutoring, etc. The students will be given information about volunteering and shadowing opportunities in local hospitals, nursing homes, and health care clinics. The idea is to continue relationships with these students to make them feel excited and proud to train in a program that gets them ready for a successful future. These students will be tracked annually to determine how well Brain Expansions goals were reached and to how the curriculum might be improved.