Twenty-three rising sophomores from the Alamance-Burlington School System have been selected to join the fifth class of scholars in the Elon Academy, a college access and success program for academically talented students, on the Elon University campus.
On May 14, the new cohort arrived on campus with their families to take a campus tour, complete paperwork and physical exams, enjoy lunch in McKinnon Hall, and meet with current scholars, families, faculty and student mentors. With the new cohort, the Elon Academy is now serving 114 scholars and approximately 300 family members.
Twenty Alpha class scholars have just completed their first year of college and 21 Beta scholars will be off to college in the fall. This summer, the Epsilon Class scholars will join the 50 scholars in the Gamma and Delta classes who will be returning to Elon as rising seniors and juniors.
The 73 high school students will spend a month on the Elon campus taking academic courses during the day including personal finance, philosophy, herpetology, criminology, engineering, creative writing, cognitive science, Spanish language and culture, political science, and music. All scholars will participate in college planning classes, which include organizational and study skills, SAT preparation, the college application process, and securing financial aid.
The evening curriculum includes golf, racquetball, dance, swimming, drama, personal defense, art and tennis.
On Saturdays scholars will be engaged in leadership development classes and community service projects. Scholars will also have the opportunity to take field trips to a variety of colleges and universities to begin considering which school is the best fit.
Elon students and faculty members, along with other educators in the area, mentor students and teach classes.
Elon Academy staff worked closely with advocates from all six high schools, River Mill Public Charter School, and staff from the Alamance-Burlington School System to identify, select and support these bright, highly motivated, local students who dream of pursuing a college education.
The Epsilon class and high school advocates for the Elon Academy include:
Cummings High School
Jessica Canar-Quito
Destiny Gilchrist
Celina Dimas-Medina
Andres Ponce-Gomez
Kimberly Romero
Advocates: Bonnie Roane and James Killorin
Eastern Alamance High School
Brandon Cork
Brendon Richards
Advocate: Wendy Nelms
Graham High School
Edwin Aureoles
Angeles Baeza-Costumbre
Miriam Gutierrez
Emeli Marroquin
Khalil Poole
Advocates: Elizabeth VonEitzen and Jennifer Milton
River Mill Academy
Brittany Dorsett
Jill Eperson
Caleb Garner
Tonisha Lewis
Advocate: Karen Gobel
Southern Alamance High School
Corey Goldman
Malika Pettiford
Angel Scales
Advocate: Cindy Preuss
Western Alamance High School
Blake Edwards
Annie Kang
Advocate: Kimberly Alston
Williams High School
Zydae Joyner
Jada Williams
Advocate: Carole Workman
About the Elon Academy:
Launched by Elon University in 2007, the Elon Academy is an intensive three-year college access and success program for local high school students with high financial need or no family history of attending college. It combines a month-long residential program over three successive summers with follow-up experiences during the academic year.
For more information: www.elon.edu/elonacademy.