Summary: About 60 seventh- through 10th-grade students from around west Michigan will have a real-life college experience this weekend, courtesy of Calvin College's Striving Toward Educational Possibilities (STEP) conference.
Young people from around west Michigan will be coming to Calvin this weekend. About 60 students from the area will move into Rooks VanDellen residence hall at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 12 for the college's 16th annual Striving Toward Educational Possibilities (STEP) conference.
The conference allows students interested in pursuing higher education a three-day real-life college experience. Students live in dorms, attend academic classes and participate in a number of other fun activities. The entire weekend is focused on encouraging children who attend core city churches and schools in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Holland and Kalamazoo to pursue a post-high school education.
Director of pre-college programs, Rhae-Ann Booker, says that the conference helps bridge college opportunities with college-bound youth.
"It's rewarding to see how the students support and challenge one another as they live in community on campus and it's exciting to know that many of the students remain in contact with the college and with one another beyond STEP," said Booker.
Classes students take at STEP will have a career focus. Students will also attend workshops in music, art, video production, dance and journalism as well as a session on prepping for the ACT.
The conference also encourages parents to get involved with their child's educational goals through the Parent Academy - a pair of free workshops on Saturday, June 13 beginning at 4 p.m.
For more information, contact Rhae-Ann Booker at 616-526-6748.
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Received on Wed Jun 10 13:32:13 2009
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