On March 25, 2011, twenty 7th grade students from the School Without Walls Foundation Academy walked one block south on N. Clinton Avenue and took a giant leap into their future when they arrived at the Damon City Campus. As guests of the Department of Education, the students enthusiastically toured the campus with Peer Leader Danielle Betts, discovering the smart classrooms, computer labs, book store and other amenities available at the Damon City Campus.
Following the tour, four teams of SWWFA students participated in a Modified College Bowl competition that tested their knowledge of math, science, history and MCC/DCC facts. The question writers, readers, timekeepers and scorers hail from several programs within DCC and included Upward Bound Director Carmelita Brown-Wallace, Liberty Partnerships Director Susan Gunther, Alice Gray (Upward Bound), Spencer Sisson (Upward Bound), Tom Cardot (STEP), Amanda Coney (Peer Leader) and Megan Driscoll (student - Education major). Director Brown-Wallace, Director Gunther and Tom Cardot also spoke to the students about the pre-collegiate programs available at MCC at the end of the competition.
The visit to Damon City Campus concluded with an engaging presentation by DCC Executive Dean Emeterio Otero on the importance of obtaining a college education. The future doctors, scientists, teachers, lawyers asked many thought-provoking questions as Dr. Otero discussed the need to develop good study habits if they hoped to achieve their career goals.
We hope this is just the beginning of a relationship between DCC and the SWWFA. The Department of Education wishes to thank Principal Thomas Pappas for his continued support of our fieldwork students. Special thanks to Mr. Pavatsath “Wasa” Bouphavong for bringing his 7th grade classroom to the Damon City Campus.
Debra M. Dwyer
Department of Education
03/30/2011 |