As Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy enters its twentieth year, the Phi Cohort represents more than a record-breaking class size. These 30 students embody the promise, potential, and perseverance that have defined Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy since its founding.
Through a redesigned recruitment and selection process focused on deepening family engagement, strengthening partnerships, and expanding opportunities for students across Alamance County, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy welcomed the largest incoming cohort in program history, who will begin their Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy journey this summer through immersive campus experiences, mentorship, and academic enrichment.
This spring, members of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy team traveled to schools across Alamance County to celebrate the milestone moment with 30 ninth-grade students: their admission into Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy’s newest cohort. Gathered alongside family members, teachers, counselors, and school advocates who had supported them throughout their educational journeys, students learned they had been selected to join the largest incoming class in Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy’s nearly 20-year history.
The celebrations marked the culmination of a redesigned recruitment and selection process that emphasized accessibility, family engagement, collaboration, and student-centered experiences. As Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy enters its twentieth year, the expanded cohort reflects both the program’s continued growth and its enduring commitment to creating pathways to college access and success for students across Alamance County.
Led by Assistant Director Briston Whitt, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy’s revised recruitment and selection model introduced several significant enhancements, including a streamlined application process, redesigned group interview experiences, expanded family engagement opportunities, and increased collaboration with school, university, and community partners.
“Every aspect of the process was designed to create a more meaningful experience for students and families while ensuring we were able to identify Scholars who would really benefit from and thrive in the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy community,” said Whitt. “We wanted students and their families to feel seen, supported, and connected to the program from their very first interaction with us.”
The recruitment cycle began with intentional collaboration between Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy and its network of school-based advocates. Serving as liaisons between the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy program and local schools, advocates provided valuable insight into the unique needs of their school communities and helped connect prospective students and families with information, resources and opportunities to learn more about the program.
Building on those partnerships, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy launched an extensive outreach effort that included school presentations, family information sessions, community events, social media campaigns and direct outreach to students throughout the Alamance-Burlington School System. The team also participated in events such as the ABSS Options Fair and school-based orientation programs, helping students and families begin exploring college access opportunities early in their high school careers.
The result was a strong and diverse applicant pool representing schools from across Alamance County.
Students advancing in the selection process submitted an essay and teacher recommendation, before participating in a redesigned group interview experience hosted for the first time ever on Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s campus. Over three days, prospective scholars engaged in collaborative activities designed to assess communication, critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills while giving students an opportunity to experience Â鶹ÊÓƵ firsthand.
The campus-based format also created new opportunities for family engagement. While students participated in interviews and activities, family members were invited to remain on campus for programming focused on student success, wellbeing, and navigating the college preparation journey. Families learned more about the program’s expectations and connected with Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy staff in a welcoming and supportive environment.
The redesigned model also expanded participation from university and community partners. Faculty and staff members, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy student leaders, College Scholars, and supporters joined the process as evaluators, providing prospective Scholars with meaningful interactions while gaining a firsthand understanding of the intentionality behind the selection process. Following the group interview phase, finalists participated in individual interviews conducted at their schools to complete the selection process.
The result was the selection of 30 exceptional students who will comprise the Phi Cohort, officially making it the largest incoming class in Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy history.
“Expanding to 30 Scholars represents more than a larger cohort size,” said Director Emily Wiersma. “It represents more students, more families, and more futures that will be impacted through the power of education, mentorship and opportunity. As we approach our twentieth year, it is exciting to see Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy continuing to grow while remaining deeply committed to the mission that has guided us from the beginning.”
In early May, the newest scholars and their families returned to campus for New Scholar Orientation, an immersive introduction to Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy and Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Throughout the day, students participated in community-building activities, learned about program expectations, explored campus, connected with peers, and began building relationships that will support them throughout their Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy journey.
Families participated in their own programming focused on building connections, learning about available resources and hearing directly from current Scholars and families about their experiences in the program. The orientation concluded with Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy’s traditional Honors Ceremony, during which current Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy College Scholars led students in formally committing themselves to the values and expectations of the program and received honor coins commemorating their official welcome into the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy family.
While orientation marked an important milestone, the Phi Cohort’s journey is just beginning.
Next week, scholars will return to campus for Summer Academy, one of Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy’s signature experiences. During the program, students will live in residence halls, participate in academic enrichment opportunities, build relationships with mentors and peers and gain firsthand experience navigating a college environment. For many scholars, Summer Academy serves as the moment when Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy truly comes to life – transforming a group of newly admitted students into a supportive community united by shared goals, aspirations, and opportunity.
Members of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ community will have several opportunities to engage with the newest cohort throughout the summer, including the annual Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy Ice Cream Social. This beloved tradition brings together scholars, families, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and community supporters to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter and welcome the Phi Cohort into the broader Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy community. Interested guests can .
As Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy enters its twentieth year, the Phi Cohort represents more than a record-breaking class size. These 30 students embody the promise, potential, and perseverance that have defined Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy since its founding. Their journey is just beginning, and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ community is invited to join in celebrating, supporting, and welcoming the newest generation of Â鶹ÊÓƵ Academy Scholars.