Students learn about college, themselves in summer program

While school may be the last thought for most Salem County students in July, a select group invested time preparing for college.

The Rising Stars program, under the direction of Salem Community College Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Joanne Damminger, is a comprehensive four-week program aimed at helping students navigate the process of searching for and applying to colleges.

“The program introduces students to college, helps increase their confidence in their academic ability, and heightens their awareness of applying and going to college,” explained Charles Foster, SCC’s Career Advisor.

More than 125 students have benefited from the Rising Stars program since 2000, according to Foster. This year, 17 students entering grades 10 through 12 were chosen, based on the recommendation of their school counselors.

“The students understood that Rising Stars is an important step in their education,” said Damminger. “I’m confident that they will apply what they learned and will become successful college students.”

Preparing for the SAT college admission exam consumed a large portion of the coursework, with more than 25 hours of lessons culminating in a full SAT test-taking experience.

“I wanted to prepare myself for the SATs as much as I could,” said Kaytlynn Capasso, a senior at Penns Grove High School. “I ended up learning more about myself too.”

“The first time I took the SATs, I didn’t really have a strategy,” said Timothy Busch, a senior at Salem High School. “But this program helped me increase my knowledge and gave me a strategy to do better.”

Students also learned about the college admissions process.

“The program helps make the college application process more accessible,” Foster said. “Through the lessons and activities, these students begin to realize that their world can be as large as they choose to make it. The students may realize that when making college choices, they choose their own destiny.”

These are lessons many of the students took to heart.

“I learned that it’s important to look at things from different perspectives,” said Mariah DuBois, in tenth grade at Penns Grove High School. “The way you see things may look totally different to another person and you have to be open to that.”

Christopher Niles, Interim Supervisor of the Center for Student Success, said he saw this in progress, witnessing the difference in how the group interacted together from the first day to the final one four weeks later.

“Seeing the energy, how the students are able to articulate the lessons they’ve learned and how they are worked together is very powerful,” he said. “It is truly a testament to the dedication they have to preparing themselves for the brightest future possible.”

After participating in leadership development activities several of the Rising Stars students said they were surprised to discover they have leadership qualities.

“Being a leader isn’t just about guiding people,” Busch said. “You have to understand them, and open yourself up to their views and beliefs.”

“Sometimes being a leader is just doing the right thing,” said Salem High School junior Evelyn Campbell.

The students agreed that the lessons they learned this summer will help them when they return to school.

“The Rising Stars program benefits each student differently,” Foster said. “One of the most important aspects is that students begin to realize that choosing a college is a multi-step process that includes achieving in high school, taking appropriate preparatory courses, researching colleges, taking college tours and knowing themselves as learners.”

Story by Tracy Wiggins
Photo by Kelly Gralley