The Elon Academy is moving closer to its debut this summer, when 26 high school students will converge on campus for an intensive four-week enrichment program.
Deborah Long, faculty administrative fellow and assistant to the president, and other leaders of the Academy discussed the program’s progress at a meeting in Mooney building on Friday, March 2. The first class of rising sophomores has been selected and will arrive at Elon on June 17, she said.
“This is a special group of students,” Long said. “They are yearning for this opportunity.”
More than 100 students from Cummings, Eastern Alamance, Graham, Southern Alamance, Western Alamance and Williams high schools applied for enrollment in this year’s Academy. The 26 who were accepted are academically talented students who may not be considering higher education because of financial or other reasons.
The goal of the Elon Academy is to inspire and empower students to attend four-year colleges or universities, and go on to assume leadership roles in their communities. Each summer, 20-24 rising sophomores will be admitted to the Academy, and they will continue with the program until their high school graduation. By the third year of the program, about 70 students will be enrolled in the Academy. All students will be enrolled at no cost.
Several Elon faculty, staff and students are involved in teaching and administration for the Academy. The program’s leadership team is made up of Long; director Rich Mihans; assistant director Darris Means; Kim Johnson, associate director of multicultural recruitment; and program assistant Laura Beitman.