RELEASED: July 3, 2002

DANVILLE, KY-The recently concluded Whitney M. Young Scholars Program Summer Institute 2002 held at Centre College was exceptionally well received, according to organizers and students. From June 16-28 the college was home to some of Kentucky's most academically talented minority students. It was the first year that Centre had hosted the two-week program.

Participants in the program at Centre were rising 11th-graders from Jefferson County area schools. There are approximately 175 Whitney M. Young Scholars in grades 7-12 on area college campuses this summer.

Students said they were happy and intrigued with their experience at Centre.

J.H. Atkins, assistant vice president and associate professor of education at Centre who oversees the school's office of diversity education, helped bring the program to campus. He said he would like to see every Whitney M. Young Scholar that attended end up on Centre's campus.

"Centre wants to be more diverse," he said. "We don't want to lower our academic standards, and with these kids you don't have to worry about that."

Classes were taught in technology, humanities, mathematics, science, language arts, social studies and health and physical education. The scholars spent six hours each day in the classroom.

But it wasn't all work and no play. The students took part in many outside-the-classroom educational activities.

Students toured the historic Perryville Battlefield, watched a glass-blowing demonstration by Centre professor and internationally known artist Stephen Powell, toured Shaker Village (which included a boat ride), attended a speech by cross-Atlantic rower Tori Murden-McClure and went to a Lexington Legends minor league baseball game.

The program, which is based in Jefferson County, is a branch of the Lincoln Foundation, and is named after Young. He was a civil rights activist and former president of the Urban League.

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