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Students Explore College, Careers At New Summer Camp

Seventh- and eighth-graders in Fort Wayne Community Schools have the opportunity to spend a week learning about local college options and career choices during FWCS’ first GEAR UP Summer Exploration Camp June 17-21.

The week-long program is funded by the federal GEAR UP grant (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), which is aimed at increasing the college and career readiness of students. FWCS is working in partnership with Indiana Tech, Ivy Tech, Indiana University Fort Wayne, Purdue Fort Wayne and University of Saint Francis, and students will have a chance to visit each during the free week-long camp.

During the campus visits, students will tour the schools, hear about the admissions process, participate in activities on campus and eat lunch on campus. During the week, they will also learn about dual credit and Advanced Placement courses that they can take in high school and financial literacy, in addition to participating in mock interviews and team building exercises.

“We are excited to offer this new exploration camp to our middle school students who will be in seventh or eighth grades in the fall,” said Shenita Bolton, K-12 College and Career Readiness/GEAR UP Manager. “This is an important age for students to start thinking about where they want to go in the future and learn about what steps they need to take to reach their goals. This program will also show them that they are not alone in this journey and there are many resources at their school, within FWCS and within the community to ensure they are successful.”

With nearly 30,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is one of the largest school districts in Indiana. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 50 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as science and math, communication, fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level. In high school, students can choose from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, Project Lead the Way or New Tech Academy as well as other rigorous academic and specialty training programs.