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Each month during the school year, Elon Academy scholars return to campus for a Saturday morning program that includes college planning activities appropriate to their grade in high school. Programs include SAT/ACT preparation, writing for college, study skills, time management, high school course selection, college/scholarship application process, financial planning, and working with school counselors. Between Saturday programs, scholars also work closely with College Access Team (CAT) Mentors who provide ongoing college planning support.
Family Involvement
Family involvement is a key component of the Academy, therefore parents, guardians, and other family members are invited to campus four times per year. Workshops for families parallel those offered to the scholars. During the senior year, families meet one-on-one with staff to complete college admissions/financial aid applications and to explore appropriate options for their scholar(s). All family workshops are in both English and Spanish.
Inquiry Project (IP) Teams
Active engagement in authentic projects are a powerful way to develop content knowledge, academic behaviors and college-ready skills. Through involvement in year-long Inquiry Project (IP) Teams, Elon Academy scholars develop reading, writing, communication, collaboration, time management, organizational, and critical thinking skills while engaging in high interest projects. Scholars have the opportunity to select one of five teams. Each IP Team will share their work with an authentic audience in the spring. Project team leads include Elon University and high school faculty or community leaders as well as student team assistants.
Inquiry Project Teams for 2011-2012 include:
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Project Summary:• Photography - The Creative Documentary Portrait
Team Lead: Barbara Tyroler, Animage Photography and Videography, Chapel Hill, NC http://www.btyroler.com/
Team Assistant, Molly O’Brien, Elon University class of 2013, Anthropology Major, Elon University
Project Summary: Through research and interview, digital camera capture, critique, final edit, and digital printmaking, scholars will create and gift a final portrait that captures what they will defend as a “likeness” of their chosen subject.
• Lions, Tigers and Activists, Oh My! -- Conservation Issues and Captive Management of Wild Carnivores
Team Lead: Mindy Stinner, Director of the Conservators’ Center, Mebane, NC http://www.conservatorscenter.org/
Team Assistant: Megan McGrath, Elon University class of 2011, Psychology major, French minor
Project Summary: Visit, learn about, and speak out for threatened wildlife species, especially carnivores!
• Hookups 101 - Navigating College Relationships
Team Lead: Buffie Longmire-Avital, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Elon University
Team Assistants: Zaccai Williams; Elon University class of 2012 Psychology Major and Human Services Minor and Zana Milak; Elon University class of 2012, Psychology Major and Business Administration Minor
Project Summary: This course will give scholars an opportunity to develop a program about dating and risk-taking in college.
• Herpetology Across the State
Team Lead: Terry Tomasek, Assistant Professor of Education, Elon University
Team Assistants: Kelly Coble, Elon University class of 2012, Mathematics Major with Teacher Licensure and David Munoz, Elon University Class of 2012, Environmental Science Major
Project Summary: During this course we will broaden our understanding of Herpetology from local species in the Piedmont to those species that can be found across the state of North Carolina.
Inquiry Projects Scholar Consultants: Vidal Morales-Santos (Delta), Karina Navarro (Delta), Ginika Nwoko (Delta), Elizabeth Tish (Gamma), Blake Edwards (Epsilon), Khalil Poole (Epsilon), Jill Epperson (Epsilon), Brittany Dorsett (Epsilon), Brendon Richards (Epsilon), and Angel Scales (Epsilon). Consultants periodically meet for lunch after the Saturday program to provide input on the IPs to the staff and the Team Leads Assistants.
Attendance is required for scholars. The Saturday Academy meets monthly, typically from 9 – 12:30 with special leadership activities in the afternoon. Lunch is provided for those staying for afternoon activities. Transportation is provided upon request.
Additional Saturday programs include a holiday party, a tailgate and football game and other activities throughout the year. To see photos from past events, click here.
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