Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants to the Freedom Scholars program must live in Alamance County or the surrounding areas and must be rising high school seniors. In addition, they must meet at least two of the following criteria:

• come from low-income households,
• be a part of one or more ethnically marginalized groups, or
• be a first-generation college-bound student.

Students who wish to pursue a college education, facilitate meaningful change in their communities, and show strong leadership potential are encouraged to apply.

Students who meet the criteria for the program are able to apply free of charge.

Nothing. The Freedom Scholars program is offered to cohort members free of charge. In fact, each Scholar will earn a small honorarium, half to be offered at the beginning of the summer program, and the other half to be offered at the end of the program. This honorarium is offered with the intention of helping to offset the financial pressures enrolling in the program may impose.

Freedom Scholars will attend a two-week summer program at Elon University the summer before their senior year of high school. During this program, students will work intensively with Elon faculty and student undergraduate mentors to explore the principles and concepts of freedom, citizenship and democracy advanced in ancient, modern and contemporary texts. Before completing the summer program, scholars will identify a challenge facing their local community, and design a service project around which they will apply the principles they have learned.

Scholars will also work with mentors and program leaders throughout the course of their senior year to implement their project. The Freedom Scholars will meet once each month to develop their projects and continue their exploration of what it means to be an actively engaged scholar and civic-leader.

In the summer after their senior year, Scholars will present their work at the Freedom Scholars Symposium.

Freedom Scholars earn two semester hours of college credit following the completion of the summer program, and an additional hour of college credit following the completion of the program. They also earn a small honorarium to help offset any financial burdens the program may cause.

Throughout the course of the program, Freedom Scholars develop their mentoring networks, strengthen their written, oral and deductive skills, and hone their leadership abilities. Upon completion of the program, Scholars will be prepared to assume roles as active citizen-leaders in their communities.

No.

Yes, but application fees are covered through the program for students accepted into the program.

Any Elon student can apply to be an Elon student mentor. The ideal mentor will maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, come from a Pell-eligible household, an ethnically marginalized group, or be a first-generation college student. Students majoring or minoring in Classical Studies, Political Science, Policy Studies, Philosophy or English will be given special consideration.

Elon student mentors will work one-on-one with Freedom Scholars to help mentor Scholars throughout the course of the program. Mentors will be expected to attend the two-week summer program in order to meet and work with the Scholars, and to meet with their Scholar at least once a month throughout the academic year. During this time, mentors will assist Scholars in the completion of their service project, and support Scholars as they finish high school and apply to post-secondary institutions.

Yes, the Elon student mentor is a paid position.

Civic Leader mentors are members of the Alamance County community and its surrounding areas. Mentors may come from a variety of professions, however must all possess the qualities of a civic leader, and desire to share their expertise and wisdom with today’s promising youth.

Civic Leader mentors will help develop the leaders of tomorrow by building a mentorship relationship with Scholars. Mentors will pass down their knowledge and expertise, and will therefore develop competent and passionate future leaders for their communities.

Civic Leader Mentors will work one-on-one with Freedom Scholars throughout the academic year. Mentors will support Scholars during the development, planning, and implementation of their community impact projects, and build mentoring relationships with them.