Many college students face barriers that make it difficult for them to complete their academic degrees, including enrollment in summer courses.
EKU’s Diversity Office, Summer Committee, Student Financial Assistance and the Noel Studio for Academic Creativity have collaborated on a new Summer Scholars program to provide juniors and seniors the necessary financial and academic support needed to take a summer course.
The 10 students selected this year for summer scholarships are participating in several enrichment experiences, including:
- pre-assigned tutoring provided by campus resources and designed to enhance success in areas related to writing, communication, research, critical reading and study skills related to their coursework.
- high-impact practices study skills workshops customized to help each student be successful.
- community service opportunities related to the students’ areas of interest and their academic pursuits.
One of this year’s Summer Scholars, Kristena Cook, a senior aviation major who commutes daily from Louisville, said the Summer Scholarship “definitely relieved a lot of pressure. I pay so much in gas to get here, so getting the notification that I got the scholarship took so much weight off me. So I decided to take an extra class because of the scholarship.
“When I got the notification, it really set me up to take advantage of as much as I could,” added Cook, the mother of two, ages 13 and 8. “That money helped me out significantly, and it made me feel important. Summer school is not popular, so the fact that I’m recognized by being able to get that award makes me feel good, and it really does something for my self-esteem and my confidence.”
In collaboration with the Diversity and Financial Aid offices, summer term course scholarships, partial scholarships and book scholarships are available to provide support for students.
Taleejah Pitney, a senior public health major, said a lack of finances prohibited her from taking a summer class last year. “I thought this was a good opportunity and now I’m taking three classes so it won’t be so much stress on me later.”
Read more about #EKUSummer at summer.eku.edu.