Elon hosts Alamance-Burlington School System Honors Institute

Dozens of talented students are taking part this summer in the Alamance-Burlington School System Honors Institute at Elon, a collaborative effort between the school system and the university to provide a summer enrichment experience for talented and motivated students.

Thirty-five rising high school seniors from across Alamance County were selected from a pool of applicants to attend the four-week institute housed in the School of Education that runs through June 29. Students selected for the institute are motivated and prepared for college-level work. In addition, they have track records of outstanding school performance, above-average achievement and reading ability above or well above grade level.

The mission of the institute is to challenge students to understand, explore and practice engaged citizenship. Students will leave the institute motivated to develop new connections and to make positive contributions aimed at improving the quality of life within their communities. This will be accomplished by examining social issues, designing creative solutions to complex problems, and exploring a variety of academic disciplines.

Students will develop critical perspectives as well as frames of reference for their own thinking. Moreover, students will create unique responses to pressing issues while working together with their classmates to construct civil and responsible reactions that benefit society. 

On a weekly basis students participate in four courses, each of which meets twice per week. The courses include: Design Thinking, Current Issues, Civil Leadership, and Social Sciences. The curriculum is designed for advanced learners and students ready for the challenge of college-level work. The goals of the program of study are for students to grow as scholars and advance their skills in the areas of critical thinking, persuasive writing, reading, consumption of media and communication. There are no grades, assessments or credit given.

The institute is directed by Alicia Curtis from Williams High School. Alamance-Burlington School System faculty teaching in the institute include: Curtis, Linda Ellington (Williams High School), Brian Ewbank (Eastern Alamance High School), Neil Schledorn (Williams High School), Aeron Sizemore (Cummings High School), and Sharon Williams (Williams High School).