Niagara Falls High School Students Learn College and Career Skills at Camp Hosted by Levesque Institute

Niagara University's Levesque Institute for Civic Engagement hosted a college and career readiness camp for Niagara Falls High School students in the Early College/Smart Scholars program July 15-Aug. 1, 2024. The three-week program offered 14 rising juniors and sophomores the opportunity to take college-level courses while learning the skills necessary for their transition to higher education.

Students earned three tuition-free college credits from Niagara University after successful completion of one of two courses.

Multicultural Education, taught by Tracia McKissic, director of teacher education field experience, explored the myths and origins of prejudice and discrimination; the issues of respect, appreciation, and celebration of diversity; and the importance of mental health awareness in the educational setting. Students taking this course completed a research-based assignment to learn about cultures in other countries and diversity in education. Findings were presented to their peers via PowerPoint on the last day of classes.

American Sign Language was taught by Rachel Violanti, a faculty fellow in modern languages, and teaching assistants from her class, and featured guest speaker Dr. Carolyn Shivers, associate professor of psychology. This course was coordinated in tandem with the Inclusive NU summer camp being held concurrently by the institute, which gave the Early College students an inclusive class experience with the special education students from NFHS who audited the class.

In the afternoon, students learned more about various life-skills topics such as mental health services, conflict resolution, substance use, civic engagement, and school culture with Schurron Cowart, a school counselor in the Niagara Falls City School District. They also learned about volunteer opportunities, financial planning, entrepreneurship, and personal branding from Alycia Ivancie, education director of Junior Achievement.

"The program provides a unique opportunity for the students to immerse themselves in college-level coursework and gain an understanding of themselves and the world around them. We intentionally focused on cultural diversity to enhance academic skills and foster personal growth through interactive experiences, to make it a truly transformative experience," said Rhonda Bivins-Talley, executive director of the Levesque Institute.

Early College is a four-year program offered in partnership with the Niagara Falls City School District under the institute's community outreach pillar to prepare students in grades 9-12 for higher education.

The Levesque Institute was established in 2011 to assist in the revival of the City of Niagara Falls and the Western New York region. As an institutional community partner, it aligns university resources to assist residents, school districts, small businesses, and community-based organizations in the areas of career and college readiness, civic engagement, family literacy, and workforce preparation. Innovative programs and projects are offered under one of four pillars: community outreach, P-12 education, health and wellness, and revitalization.