Two ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy staff members and four ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy scholars—two high school scholars and two college scholars—presented at the North Carolina College Access Conference in Durham Feb. 22.
Jonathan Garcia-Pena (Cummings High School senior), Elizabeth Tish (Graham High School senior), Stacey Crutchfield (ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ sophomore), and Jaron Torain (Saint Augustine’s College sophomore) served on a panel led by Darris Means, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy Associate Director, and Dr. Kim Pyne, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy Assistant Director of Academic Programs and Assistant Professor of English and Education.
Their presentation, “The Journey to College: Perspectives from Underrepresented High School and College Students in a College Access and Success Program” explored the students’ experiences in the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy.
Launched by ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ in 2007, the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy is a college access and success program for academically-promising high school students with a financial need and/or no family history of college. It combines a month-long residential program over three successive summers with follow-up experiences during the academic year. ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy staff work closely with advocates from all six high schools, River Mill Public Charter School, as well as Alamance-Burlington School System staff to identify, select, and support these bright, highly motivated, local students who dream of a college education. Support for students continues through their college graduation.