This spring, members of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy team traveled to schools across Alamance County to celebrate the milestone moment with 30 ninth-grade students: their admission into ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy’s newest cohort. Gathered alongside family members, teachers, counselors, and school advocates who had supported them throughout their educational journeys, students learned they had been selected to join the largest incoming class in ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy’s nearly 20-year history.

The celebrations marked the culmination of a redesigned recruitment and selection process that emphasized accessibility, family engagement, collaboration, and student-centered experiences. As ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy enters its twentieth year, the expanded cohort reflects both the program’s continued growth and its enduring commitment to creating pathways to college access and success for students across Alamance County.

Led by Assistant Director Briston Whitt, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy’s revised recruitment and selection model introduced several significant enhancements, including a streamlined application process, redesigned group interview experiences, expanded family engagement opportunities, and increased collaboration with school, university, and community partners.

“Every aspect of the process was designed to create a more meaningful experience for students and families while ensuring we were able to identify Scholars who would really benefit from and thrive in the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy community,” said Whitt. “We wanted students and their families to feel seen, supported, and connected to the program from their very first interaction with us.”

The recruitment cycle began with intentional collaboration between ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy and its network of school-based advocates. Serving as liaisons between the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy program and local schools, advocates provided valuable insight into the unique needs of their school communities and helped connect prospective students and families with information, resources and opportunities to learn more about the program.

Building on those partnerships, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy launched an extensive outreach effort that included school presentations, family information sessions, community events, social media campaigns and direct outreach to students throughout the Alamance-Burlington School System. The team also participated in events such as the ABSS Options Fair and school-based orientation programs, helping students and families begin exploring college access opportunities early in their high school careers.

The result was a strong and diverse applicant pool representing schools from across Alamance County.

Students advancing in the selection process submitted an essay and teacher recommendation, before participating in a redesigned group interview experience hosted for the first time ever on ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s campus. Over three days, prospective scholars engaged in collaborative activities designed to assess communication, critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills while giving students an opportunity to experience ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ firsthand.

The campus-based format also created new opportunities for family engagement. While students participated in interviews and activities, family members were invited to remain on campus for programming focused on student success, wellbeing, and navigating the college preparation journey. Families learned more about the program’s expectations and connected with ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy staff in a welcoming and supportive environment.

The redesigned model also expanded participation from university and community partners. Faculty and staff members, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy student leaders, College Scholars, and supporters joined the process as evaluators, providing prospective Scholars with meaningful interactions while gaining a firsthand understanding of the intentionality behind the selection process. Following the group interview phase, finalists participated in individual interviews conducted at their schools to complete the selection process.

The result was the selection of 30 exceptional students who will comprise the Phi Cohort, officially making it the largest incoming class in ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy history.

“Expanding to 30 Scholars represents more than a larger cohort size,” said Director Emily Wiersma. “It represents more students, more families, and more futures that will be impacted through the power of education, mentorship and opportunity. As we approach our twentieth year, it is exciting to see ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy continuing to grow while remaining deeply committed to the mission that has guided us from the beginning.”

In early May, the newest scholars and their families returned to campus for New Scholar Orientation, an immersive introduction to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy and ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ. Throughout the day, students participated in community-building activities, learned about program expectations, explored campus, connected with peers, and began building relationships that will support them throughout their ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy journey.

Families participated in their own programming focused on building connections, learning about available resources and hearing directly from current Scholars and families about their experiences in the program. The orientation concluded with ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy’s traditional Honors Ceremony, during which current ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy College Scholars led students in formally committing themselves to the values and expectations of the program and received honor coins commemorating their official welcome into the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy family.

While orientation marked an important milestone, the Phi Cohort’s journey is just beginning.

Next week, scholars will return to campus for Summer Academy, one of ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy’s signature experiences. During the program, students will live in residence halls, participate in academic enrichment opportunities, build relationships with mentors and peers and gain firsthand experience navigating a college environment. For many scholars, Summer Academy serves as the moment when ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy truly comes to life – transforming a group of newly admitted students into a supportive community united by shared goals, aspirations, and opportunity.

Members of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ community will have several opportunities to engage with the newest cohort throughout the summer, including the annual ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy Ice Cream Social. This beloved tradition brings together scholars, families, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and community supporters to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter and welcome the Phi Cohort into the broader ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy community. Interested guests can .

As ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy enters its twentieth year, the Phi Cohort represents more than a record-breaking class size. These 30 students embody the promise, potential, and perseverance that have defined ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy since its founding. Their journey is just beginning, and the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ community is invited to join in celebrating, supporting, and welcoming the newest generation of ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy Scholars.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy is a comprehensive college access and success program that partners with students and families beginning in high school and continues through college graduation. Serving academically promising students who are first-generation college-bound and/or from limited-income backgrounds and who attend school in or reside in Alamance County, this program is offered at no cost to participating students and their families.

Designed to address systemic barriers to higher education, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy provides students with academic enrichment, college advising, mentoring and sustained support during critical transition points from high school to college and through degree completion. Students participate in programming that strengthens academic skills, builds college knowledge and fosters a sense of belonging and confidence in higher education spaces.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy is a long-term investment in students who demonstrate talent and motivation but may not have access to the resources or guidance that make college feel possible. Recruitment is a critical first step in ensuring those students are seen, supported, and invited into this opportunity.

The current recruitment cycle focuses on identifying ninth-grade students who show academic potential, leadership, and perseverance, and who would benefit from a comprehensive college preparation program. Faculty and staff are uniquely positioned to support this effort through their professional and community networks, including relationships with local schools, community organizations, faith-based groups, and families across Alamance County.
Faculty and staff involvement helps us reach students who may not otherwise have access to information about college preparation programs. Personal encouragement and referrals can have a meaningful impact on whether a student applies. For a student to hear that they were nominated and that someone believes in them can make all the difference.

By helping to share information about ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy, faculty and staff can play a direct role in expanding access to college-preparatory opportunities and strengthening ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s longstanding commitment to equity, access, and community partnership.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy Scholars engage in a range of experiences that prepare them for college success, including academic skill-building, advising and mentoring, family engagement, and exposure to college and career pathways. The program’s impact extends beyond individual students, contributing to college-going cultures within families and communities and creating pathways to long-term educational and economic mobility.

Faculty and staff can support recruitment and applications by:

• who demonstrate academic promise and commitment to their education
• Sharing ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy information with students, families, educators, and community partners in Alamance County
• before the Feb. 1 deadline

The application deadline for the 2026 cohort is Feb. 1. Additional information about eligibility requirements, program structure and the application process is available on the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy website. For additional insight, marketing materials, and further questions, please reach out to Emily Wiersma, director of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy, at ewiersma@elon.edu.