Rollins Hosts More Than 200 Local Elementary Students on Pathways to College Day

April 17, 2007

President Duncan shares "The Magic of Science" with Fern Creek Elementary School students at Pathways to College Day.

More than 220 elementary students from Fern Creek Elementary School in Orlando took a field trip to Rollins Tuesday, April 17, to learn what it's like to be a college student. During their visit, they enjoyed a lesson on The Magic of Science courtesy of Rollins President Lewis Duncan, attended one class taught by Rollins professors, met with students, had lunch and took a campus tour. Pathways to College Day was designed to teach young children the importance of planning early for college.

Students participated in classes ranging from art to theater to computers to Spanish to biology to film. “We were honored to host our friends at Fern Creek as they begin to set goals for their future,” Director of Community Engagement Micki Meyer said. “Connecting and sharing the Rollins campus with our youngest community members and watching them share in ‘a-ha’ moments throughout the day was a beautiful experience that impacted the children and our entire campus.”

A Fern Creek student works with a Rollins student in a microbiology lab at Rollins.

Rollins students are also currently mentoring Fern Creek students through a series of lessons on college awareness, goal setting, leadership and service. This effort, which is part of The Century Program, is made possible through a grant from the Foundation for Excellent Schools. With a $1 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Century Program was launched in 2003 and now involves 100 colleges and 100 public schools in high-need communities. Rollins College is the only four-year Florida institution in the program.