Aspire to the Possibilities

When teachers ask the obvious "What did you do over the summer?" question on the first day of school this fall, 20 Capital Region high schoolers can reply, "I attended Siena College."

This July, Siena hosted its inaugural Aspire Camp: Career Exploration and College Readiness Experience. Rising 8th through 11th graders were invited to campus for a three-day, insider's glimpse of college life which included experiential sessions led by members of the Siena community. The students learned about study abroad, data science, psychology, computer science, communications, and entrepreneurship and the older students got help crafting college essays. Brianna Brown '20, G'21, assistant director of marketing, spearheaded the camp.

"Knowledge is an incredibly powerful tool and many students don't realize the vast learning opportunities they would have access to in college. I have always loved learning and wanted to bring a program like Aspire Camp to Siena to show students that education can be fun!"

At the end of camp, each student presented an elevator pitch focused on what they had learned. According to Brown, "The confidence and ambition displayed by the students was truly inspiring, and it reaffirmed the importance of programs like Aspire Camp in preparing the next generation for success."

April Backus '12, director of academic programs and events, Sam Hesler, assistant director of academic programs and events, and McKenna Fitzgerald '25, played leading roles in bringing Aspire Camp to life.

"Aspire Camp is an important part of our mission to serve the community and inspire lifelong learning," Hesler said. "The students learned a variety of skills during the program, walked away thinking about new career opportunities, and gained an understanding of the connection between degree choice and career path."

And maybe they'll continue that career path as Saints. The purpose of the camp was to expose the students to the possibilities of higher education, not just at Siena. But, plenty of the higher schoolers can already see themselves here in the future.

"Many have already asked if they can sign up again next year!" Hesler said.