Thursday, July 21, 2011

The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Watson School of Education has partnered with Columbus County Schools to bring middle school students to campus this summer for a preview of career options and the college experience. The program is designed to foster intellectual curiosity and inspire interest in pursuing higher education.

From July 5-28, students from Chadbourn Middle School are participating in the Summer Enrichment Project, which offers engaging college-style class work, exciting career exploration and one-on-one tutoring from UNCW students.

The program is funded through a federal grant received by the Columbus County Schools, who approached UNCW to provide the facilities, curriculum and staff. Summer vacations often offer few opportunities for students to practice academic skills, and as a result, they can lose ground during the break. UNCW and Columbus County want to reverse this process, using a summer experience to help students gain academic focus and skills.

“A project such as this is important for so many reasons,” said Somer Lewis, teacher-in-residence at the Watson School of Education. “Our hope is that students are beginning to picture themselves at a university such as UNCW, and that the enrichment piece of the project has sparked a student’s interest and made the possibility of post-secondary education come alive.”

Students are exploring career fields including science, health and nutrition and will work closely with UNCW tutors to research topics of personal interest for a Learning Expo on July 28. Tutors are working to improve student literacy by providing fun and engaging projects. Field trips, academic coursework and cultural activities will also be part of the learning experience.

Media are invited to attend an African Drumming cultural learning experience at the UNCW Upperman African American Cultural Center on July 21 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., as well as a career exploration session in health careers in McNeill Hall on July 28 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. The students interact with teaching “sim” mannequins in UNCW’s state-of-the-art nursing education simulation labs.

Media Contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu