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More than 70 middle school students from Athens-Clarke and Oglethorpe counties participated in the third year of a summer education program at the University of North Georgia's (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Oconee Campus.

The Nighthawks Student Opportunities for Accelerated Readiness (SOAR) program targets economically disadvantaged and English as a second language youth who are prospective first-generation college students and was designed to bridge the education gap for rising sixth- through eighth-grade students in the summer.

"The American Action Forum reported that a study reviewing data for 3.4 million kindergarten through eighth-grade students who took the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) reading and math assessments between 2016 and 2018 found more than three-fourths of students experienced some learning loss over summer vacation in either subject, with average median losses of roughly two months, which increased in higher grade levels," Dr. Gary Adcox, director of campus success and strategic initiatives, said.

SOAR, a three-week camp-like summer program designed for students who would benefit from participating in a summer enrichment and engagement program, was specifically designed to address this dip in achievement. It was offered at no cost to participants.

The program included creative, hands-on activities in the areas of science, math, English, and research. It culminated with a juried research symposium, allowing students to practice both written and oral communication skills. Enrollment has grown steadily since the inaugural 2019 SOAR class.  

"This year the program doubled in size from the inaugural class offered prior to COVID. Every year there are more school leaders, teachers and parents requesting information about SOAR earlier and earlier to try to ensure their children are admitted before the program fills up," Adcox said. "I am very proud to be part of a program that means so much to our communities and has made such an important impact on the educational journey of the students."

SOAR is made possible by sponsors, community partners, school superintendents, and a teaching staff that is drawn from the local school districts.

Educators this year included Susan Brantley, Â鶹ÊÓƵ senior lecturer of biology; Dr. Barbara Carter; Christian Gallichio; Charles Myers; and Dr. Kwesi Yankey.

“Teachers have done an excellent job in this program of incorporating a lot of fun activities, while still keeping the focus on education,” Brantley, program supervisor, said.