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RELEASED: June 12, 2003
DANVILLE, KY—Things went so well last year, they're back for more. Centre College will host the Whitney M. Young Scholars Program Summer Institute 2003. From June 15-27 the college will be home to 31 of Kentucky's most academically talented minority students.
Last year was the first time Centre hosted the program.
Participants in the program at Centre are rising 11th-graders from the Jefferson County area. The Whitney M. Young Scholars Program recruits academically talented students from grades 7-12 to study on area college campuses each summer. Over a six-year period the program prepares them for high school graduation and successful entry into post-secondary educational institutions.
J.H. Atkins, assistant vice president and associate professor of education at Centre, said this program is extremely helpful to the scholars because it prepares them for course work they'll be studying when they return to their high schools in the fall. Atkins oversees Centre's office of diversity education.
"The program's directors were excited to come back, and we're excited to have them back," Atkins said. "These are outstanding and gifted students, and we'd love to see them return to Centre's campus in 2004 as Governor's Scholars."
Eight courses will be taught at Centre this summer: science, language arts, math, social studies, technology, arts and humanities, physical education/recreation, and admissions and college survival skills. Students are in class six hours each day. The students will develop a publication chronicling their summer at Centre.
There are several outside-the-classroom activities planned again this year. Students will tour Danville's Old Crow Inn, Shakertown, Fort Harrod, Danville's Pioneer Playouse, the National Underground Railroad Museum in Maysville, Ky., and they will attend a Lexington Legends minor league baseball game. They will also have a karaoke night with Governor's Scholar students, and see a glass-blowing presentation by Centre professor and internationally known artist Stephen Powell.
Students will have access to basketball, volleyball, weightlifting, track, aerobics, swimming and other activities.
After finals exams, an awards luncheon will be held June 27 attended by Whitney M. Young program officials and Centre personnel.
The program will be staffed with seven instructors and seven office staff members.
For more information on this program, contact Atkins at (859) 238-6223.
Dr. Whitney M. Young Sr. led a prominent boarding high school for African-American youth in Kentucky. He served as an educational leader for nearly 40 years. Dr. Whitney M. Young Jr., born in Lincoln Ridge, Ky., was a civil-rights leader. He was executive director of the National Urban League, and served on commissions under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. He died in 1971.
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Centre College
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Danville, KY 40422
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