Last week, the Philadelphia Education Fund’s Scholars Advantage summer program concluded after four weeks of hands-on, engaging, and fun instruction, at Temple’s Center City location.
The program, funded primarily through the School District of Philadelphia’s GEAR UP grant, was open to rising 10th graders in those SDP GEAR UP Schools and even offered students a participation stipend (up to $550 with perfect attendance all four weeks!) to encourage enrollment. New for this year, through the generous funding support of the Connelly Foundation, PEF was also able to invite rising 10th graders from West Catholic and Little Flower High Schools to participate.
In its fourth year under the direction of Madeline Birkner, PEF’s Senior Manager of Persistence and College Partnerships, the 2024 Scholars Advantage summer program enrolled over 80 students, who chose a focus in either English composition, human anatomy, intro to computer coding & AI, or skilled trades exploratory (carpentry, electrical, and plumbing).
Students also benefited from college prep workshops and the opportunity to go on weekly trips to institutions of postsecondary education, including Ursinus College, East Stroudsburg University, Williamson College, and Temple University College of Science and Technology.
Birkner also curated a robust schedule of career presentations in fields ranging from legal, medicine, journalism, illustration, software development, engineering, teaching. Ultimately, the goal of Scholars Advantage is to broaden the students’ perspectives of what lies beyond their high school – and postsecondary education – years, giving them more tools to achieve success in college and career.
