NSU Educational Talent Search hosts summer mini-camps

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--To help high school students improve their leadership skills and encourage them to attend college, the Northeastern State University Educational Talent Search TRIO program hosted a pair of two-day mini-camps.

The Learning and Leadership Summit and the High School Survivor Camp brought students from Tahlequah, Keys, Jay, Chouteau, Wagoner, Mannford, Coweta, Depew, Sapulpa, Kellyville, Inola, Muskogee Hilldale and Tulsa Memorial. The camps were held on the NSU campus and at Arrowhead Resort outside Tahlequah.

These summer camps are a fantastic way for the ETS students to learn about their college and career options," said Diane Walker, director of NSU Educational Talent Search. "They allow them to spend time on a college campus with their ETS counselor, participate in activities to improve their life skills and to help their parents get involved in the educational experience.

The Learning and Leadership Summit on June 4-5 was attended by 11 high school sophomores. Activities were designed to improve organizational, communication, problem solving, negotiation and teamwork skills in small and large group initiatives which were facilitated by ETS staff. Participants also visited the computer lab where they worked on ACT preparation, a scholarship profile, an action plan and a sophomore checklist. They were informed of methods to pay for college, specifically through Oklahoma's Promise, a higher learning access program for 8th-, 9th- and 10th-graders established by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Attendees met NSU students in the President's Leadership Class Scholarship program and former ETS participants. The group competed in a campus scavenger hunt and enjoyed an overnight stay in the Thunderbird Lodge at Arrowhead Resort.

On the second day, Walker conducted a parent session discussing scholarships, the ACT exam, college admission requirements, financial aid and financial literacy. The summit concluded with a dinner, slideshow and awards presentation.

The Educational Talent Search program held the first Learning and Leadership Summit in 2004, to improve students' high school grade-point averages, ACT scores and competitiveness for academic and leadership scholarships by informing them of available opportunities.

High School Survivor Camp, held June 11-12, is a new ETS program. Fifteen high school freshmen were divided into three groups and participated in physical and academic challenges. The activities and group discussions, facilitated by ETS staff, focused on the transition to high school. Students worked to improve their self-esteem, confidence, and their communication and cooperation skills. ETS staff awarded points to members who exhibited positive behavior and teamwork. At the end of camp, points were tallied and winning tribes recognized.

Parents attended a session on the second day to learn about high school graduation requirements, Oklahomas Promise and other college preparation
information. A slideshow, awards presentation and dinner concluded the camp.

In July, the NSU ETS staff hosts two more mini-camps. Career Camp is July 23-24 for juniors and The College Encounter is July 27 for seniors. ETS students from participating schools are invited to attend the summer mini-camps each year.

The NSU Educational Talent Search programs on the Tahlequah and Broken Arrow campuses serve about 1,000 students from 17 area schools. ETS provides college and career counseling and helps students recognize their strengths through educational, cultural and adventure activities. The NSU-ETS program is a federally-funded TRIO program through the United States Department of Education.

Our program provides a grade appropriate curriculum that covers the essential topics for high school students and assists them in the pursuit of their college
dream," Walker said. "The ETS staff (Ryan Eller, Shelia Fritts, Lisa Johnson and Lindsey Flatt) is truly making a difference in the lives of many young people.