Emerging Scholars

I had the special opportunity to be involved with the Clemson Emerging Scholars Program this summer.  I have included the link to the program website below and encourage you to check it out for yourself if you have time.  It's a phenomenal program and I was so honored to be a part of it.

Emerging Scholars

To do a quick summary for those who don't have the time to visit the website, Clemson brings students from lower-achieving schools in SC to the university to participate in this program and to get them excited about furthering their education.  Some of these students come from areas where even graduating high school is perhaps a rare occurrence.  Clemson doesn't just plug the orange and purple, though.  They also take the students to surrounding universities to help show the students that they have multiple options.  Students first participate as rising sophomores (and are then invited to return as juniors and seniors too).  They spend a week on campus with other rising sophomores from the same and different schools.  Rising juniors spend two weeks on campus.  Rising seniors are on campus for three weeks and graduate from the program upon completion of those last classes.  I was able to attend this year's graduation ceremony as a guest to the faculty member I worked with in the lab.

This year I helped with rising seniors who were taking a class on environmental science.  The students did random activities as a group, but the main project they had to complete was one that focused on an environmental concern they saw in their communities.  Students were able to work in groups and completed a mini research project about issues like pollution, waste management and recycling, etc.  The faculty member I worked with was able to get some iPads for the students to use for these activities.  The students were able to not only take pictures, but also make notes right below the pictures to best caption the images for their reports.  The app used for this class is one that I will definitely be implementing in my classroom one day if I have access to technology.

As much fun as helping in the lab was, attending the graduation ceremony was the biggest honor I've ever had.  Students performed poetry, songs, and spoke about experiences.  Awards were given and students were recognized for their efforts.  It's heartbreaking to hear what some of these students have already gone through in their lives.  Clemson brought back a member of the very first class of students to participate in this program.  She gave her first speech as a professional doctor that evening.  She spoke about how any of the students sitting in front of her were also capable of earning a PhD and that there are so many opportunities to do so.  She also talked about how the Emerging Scholars program changed her life.  Outstanding.

I've already signed up to help next summer.  I have never been more moved than I was by these students.  I want nothing more than to help them achieve the great heights they are destined to reach and surpass!