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Local Students Learn About Life at College

Posted on: Thursday, 22 June 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Chloe Morrison, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

Jun. 22--Students from Dalewood Middle School got a taste of college life when they visited Middle Tennessee State University on Wednesday as part of the Building a Bridge to College summer workshop.

The students, who will enter high school next year, were rewarded with the trip, which continues today, for their academic achievements. They are staying in dorms, participating in workshops with college professors and staff members and visiting other area colleges. Buddy Sullivan, a math teacher at Dalewood, has been taking students to MTSU for about seven years. He said the trip gives them a chance to visualize themselves in college.

"The ultimate goal is to turn kids onto college early," he said. "I can get (them) into the ninth grade, I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about the rest of (their) lives."

Many students participating in this year's workshops said they intend to attend college, but they still liked getting an idea of the experience.

"I had planned on going to college anyway," said Wayne Baker, 14. "(This trip) actually helped me figure out what I really want to do."

Students met with staff in the admissions department to ask questions about majors, hours, fraternities and sororities and enrollment.

Christina Garrett, 13, said before the trip she had no idea what college life was like.

"It is a brand-new experience," Mr. Sullivan said. "It is a new language for a lot of the kids."

Kanara West, 14, said she liked staying in the dorms, but they aren't what she expected.

"I thought they would be smaller," she said.

On Wednesday, students attended morning workshops in physics and technology.

Angela Golden, technical specialist at MTSU, taught the students about basic PC components and tried to give them the information they would need to repair their own computer, she said.

"(This is a good experience) especially for first-generation potential college students," she said. "It allows them to see a university setting."

She also said seeing a woman in a position such as hers encourages young women to strive for success.

Shanese Summeron, 14, said she is enjoying the independence her teachers allowed her while on the trip.

"My favorite part (is) being able to adapt to a college schedule," she said.

Mr. Sullivan said students also will get a chance to visit the Frist Center in Nashville and eat dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.

E-mail Chloe Morrison at cmorrison@timesfreepress.com BY THE NUMBERS 28: The number of students who participated in the Building a Bridge to College workshop the first two years.

97: The percentage of the students who went on to college after participating in the workshop during its first two years.

$6,000: The price to take students on the trip.

7: The number of years students have taken part in the program. Source: Dalewood Middle School math teacher Buddy Sullivan

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Copyright (c) 2006, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Chattanooga Times/Free Press

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