Tuesday, September 17, 2024
By Gracelyn Giese
Contributing Writer
DE PERE – While summer may be in full swing as students enjoy their break, some high school students are keeping busy attending St. Norbert College’s Bridge to College Pre-College program.
This program brought 11 students from a variety of backgrounds to the college’s campus to learn important academic, social and emotional skills.
The Bridge program was created by Bola Delano-Oriaran, divisional dean for social sciences, in 2013, who currently co-directs with Tori McNeal, assistant director for black student support.
Explaining how the program operates today Delano said, “[it] spans three weeks during the summer and is designed to enhance college readiness for participating students, thereby better preparing them for success in postsecondary programs.”
Preparation begins through education, where rising students in Grades 9-12 are taught online synchronous English and career readiness classes.
This results in students gaining four credits worth of transcriptable college credits.
During the final week of the program, June 24-28, students get to live on campus in Hugh Hall with alumni peer mentors.
They are also given the opportunity to “hone their research abilities, engage in discussions with an admissions counselor and engage in a workshop facilitated by a college and career readiness specialist.”
Students also have the chance to gain insight from a variety of St. Norbert alumni, including award-winning scientist in policy and strategy Dr. Dominique Carter.
Through a grant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, St. Norbert College is able to provide students with the Bridge to College Pre-College program in addition to other camps, classes and conferences.
To learn more about what programming St. Norbert is hosting this summer visit snc.edu.
