More than 25 years ago, Ole Miss started the Summer College for High School Students and the program has been growing ever since.
Ole Miss offers more than 20 different camps, some of which have lasted for more than 15 years. The Summer College for High School Students partners with numerous departments including the UM Field Station, the Department of Writing and Rhetoric and several research programs.
Professor Ramanarayanan “Vish” Viswanathan assists students with their circuit activity as part of the engineering camp Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by: Timothy Steenwyk)
“We started in 1984 with the PACE program, which became the Summer College for High School Students in 1998,” Ellen Shelton, pre-college program director, said. “In 2000, we added Summer Academy, 12th Grade Lott Leadership Institute, and ninth grade Lott Leadership Institute. In 2001, we started Jumpstart, and in 2005 we added Rebelquest.”
Shelton said she believes summer programs have a significant impact on the students who participate every year.
“We have students who come back every year because they love the programs,” Shelton said. “Students have told us that they have chosen UM for their undergraduate degree, and we have also had students who have realized that they do want to attend a four-year university rather than a community college.”
Shelton said while she would love for their students to attend Ole Miss in the future, the programs’ initial goal is for them to achieve whatever they want and to have stronger visions for the future. She credits her success to her team because of their efficiency.
Arlene Dowd instructs a group of ninth and tenth graders during art camp. (Photo by: Marlee Crawford)
“I’m kind of like the superintendent of the programs, as I have a brilliant team who are the main coordinators of the different programs,” Shelton said.
In addition to the summer camps for younger students, the pre-college program also continues to expand every year. This year there are 17 programs.
At least one new program is added every year, according to Cass Dodgen, director of Summer College. Dodgen said he loves how the program can change people’s image of Ole Miss entirely.
“I believe that we bring many students to campus that would not otherwise be here and they leave with a love and interest in Ole Miss that did not exist before they arrived.”
Shelton said the University hopes to enrich young students and to further their educational experience.
“With Ole Miss the standard of excellence as our foundation, we offer students the opportunity for both academic and personal development, while bridging the gap between secondary and postsecondary education,” Shelton said.
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- Students work on electrical engineering projects as part of the engineering camp Tuesday afternoon.
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- Two girls run up and down the tennis court, to build their endurance. Ninety-two kids partake in UM tennis youth summer camp.
