The Rappahannock Scholars Program is a proud recipient of a $20,000 AT&T grant that will be used to fund scholarships to a new and revamped summer residential program at UMW in the summer of 2020. The program is designed to provide both enrichment in certain subject areas like science, and also provide students with a taste of what college life and classes are really like.

“Our students have a hard time understanding what life and classes are like on a college campus,” said Rappahannock Scholars Program Director Gayle Mitchell. “This gives them the opportunity to live on campus, experience the Fredericksburg community, and work side-by-side with professors, just as they would as a student here.”

Students will have the opportunity to select from a variety of courses with topics that are relevant as they approach college and career selection. Topics include digitally intensive courses, media production, chemistry and cooking, science and augmented reality, and environmentally-focused courses. They will also participate in local field trips and fun games and activities on campus as well.

Scholars are part of a four-year college admissions and financial aid training and support program focused in six high schools on the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula of Virginia. A Program Counselor works monthly with high performing but underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students from 9th – 12th grades at member high schools as they prepare to apply to and attend college. Summer programs like this are a valuable tool in exposing students to college curriculum materials and real-world applications of coursework. The program hopes to support as many as 20 students in attending this summer’s program. AT&T’s contribution of $20,000 helps make Rappahannock Scholar participation possible.