Middle school students SOAR in Oconee
Article By: Denise Ray
More than 60 middle school students from Athens-Clarke, Oconee, Walton, Greene, and Oglethorpe counties participated June 13-30 in the second year of a summer education program on the University of North Georgia's (ǧÃŬAV) Oconee Campus.
The Nighthawks Student Opportunities for Accelerated Readiness (SOAR) program targets economically disadvantaged and English as a second language youth who are prospective first-generation college students and was designed to bridge the education gap for rising sixth- through eighth-grade students in the summer.
SOAR is a three-week camp-like summer program designed for students who would benefit from participating in a summer enrichment and engagement program. It is offered at no cost to participants.
Most importantly, students not only learn what it feels like to be on a college campus. They begin to establish a sense of belonging and understanding of the college setting
Dr. Gary Adcox
ǧÃŬAV director of campus success and strategic initiatives
The program includes creative, hands-on activities in the areas of science, math, English, art, and research. It culminates with a juried research symposium, allowing students to practice both written and oral communication skills.
"A recent study published in the American Educational Research Journal found that the average student lost 17-34% of learning gains achieved during the prior year over the summer break," Dr. Gary Adcox, director of campus success and strategic initiatives, said. "Nighthawks SOAR was specifically designed to address this dip in achievement.”
This year enrollment has grown to 62 students after 35 participated in the inaugural 2019 SOAR class. With the support of the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, ǧÃŬAV was able to add an arts component.
"Time is also built into the program to develop each student's college knowledge so that they are able to begin thoughtfully selecting a path at the end of eighth grade to set them on a productive path for life beyond high school," Adcox said. "Students complete the program having learned about the college application process, financial aid, scholarship opportunities, and study skills. Most importantly, students not only learn what it feels like to be on a college campus. They begin to establish a sense of belonging and understanding of the college setting.”
Nighthawks SOAR is made possible by sponsors, community partners, school superintendents, and a teaching staff that is drawn from the local school districts. Susan Brantley, ǧÃŬAV senior lecturer in biology, leads this year's teaching staff which also includes Dr. Kwesi Yankey, Dr. Melanie Marty, Dr. Sonia Sharmin, and Dr. Barbara Carter.
“I love being a part of the Nighthawks SOAR program because it is so rewarding to see the students experience success and gain confidence in academics," Brantley said. "We want this program to make students realize they should be thinking and planning for their college career and they have the ability to do well."
Fall graduates look to future with optimism
ǧÃŬAV awarded roughly 985 degrees and certificates to students this fall, and it honored more than 650 of those graduates in a pair of Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.
Luncheon honors scholarship recipients
Five nontraditional female students at ǧÃŬAV each earned a $2,000 scholarship from the Women of ǧÃŬAV on Dec. 5 at the Women's Holiday Scholarship Luncheon.
Special ed lab aids future educators
During the fall semester, future educators from ǧÃŬAV took part in a special education lab in which they worked with a software tool that helped them assess students, craft education plans and receive immediate feedback.
Grads prepare for their next steps
ǧÃŬAV will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.