Dozens of local youngsters spent five days on the Ironton Campus of Ohio University Southern, July 16-20, as part of the 2018 Academy of Excellence.

The Academy offered sessions in electronic media activities, mock crime scene investigation, biology, human health and nutrition.

Dr. Martha Evans, assistant professor and campus liaison for the Early Childhood Education program at Ohio Southern, served as coordinator of the Academy of Excellence.

She said the goal of the Academy is to provide children with exposure to a university experience, so that when they finish their primary and secondary education, they might feel less apprehension about going to college. 

Faculty and staff worked together to create a summer experience based on academics and fun, that gave the students exposure to subjects they could use for their long-range goals.

Evans shared the example of a participant who wants to go to medical school and asked for a session on human anatomy. 

“Who would have thought this elementary student wanted to begin establishing a foundation for understanding (through the Academy of Excellence),”Evans said. 

Another highlight of the event is that it provides hands-on learning opportunities for Southern Campus students. 

The Academy of Excellence features a student-centered approach, which Evans calls “a win-win” for students and the University, and ultimately the community.

“By attending our camp, children can engage in discovery that is not connected with assessment,” Evans said. “This creates a no-pressure environment where children can learn for the love of it, allowing them to explore, interact, engage and learn.”