Andrew Martin displays his handiwork during a Zoom meeting. In twice-weekly coaching sessions, Spectrum Scholars develop skills that can aid them in the classroom and beyond.

Andrew Martin can do things most people can’t – excelling at applied molecular biology and applied biotechnology, for one. But the seemingly simple act of boiling an egg?

“I thought I’d probably screw that up,” Martin says. That was before he received encouragement from Wes Garton, his coach with the CDS-run, JPMorgan Chase-supported Spectrum Scholars program for UD undergraduates with autism. Now, Martin’s boiling them, frying them, scrambling them.

“It’s not about the egg; it’s about gaining more self-confidence,” says Garton. Martin gained it by confronting challenging tasks outside the classroom, enabling him to better achieve his goal of living independently.

The “backbone” of Spectrum Scholars, coaching empowers participating students by having them establish their own goals and find ways to achieve them, says program director Pam Lubbers.

One scholar opted to pursue a healthier lifestyle so he can withstand the rigors of his business classes. A computer science major aimed to raise her communication skills so she can plan social events. An undeclared major sought to boost her leadership abilities so she can become a resident assistant.

Martin took a crack at independent living in the kitchen. “After exams,” he says, “I’m tackling tortellini.”