Sure, they were on campus to learn about academics and what college could do for them. But no one took that to mean they couldn't be enhtused about other aspects of University life than just classes - in addition to informational presentations, the visiting students took in dance shows and dramatic skits.
Terri Houston, director of recruitment and support programs in the Office of Minority Affairs, raised the excitement level in the Carolina Union auditorium Thursday at this year's final session of Project Uplift.
"We want you to get hype!" she said.
After the event, Houston discussed the University-sponsored and funded program designed to recruit minority students to UNC.
"The program is designed to identify high-achieving students who are in the top 20 to 25 percent of their class and recruit them to Carolina," Houston said.
The program specifically targets black, Native American and Hispanic students from North Carolina, Houston said. She estimated that between 800 and 1,000 high school students participated this summer.
The program introduces several different aspects of student life on campus. Participants stay in dorms, attend a class taught by a faculty member, watch performances by campus minority groups and attend information sessions.
Participants are personally invited to the program by the University
and can choose to come to one of four weekend sessions during the summer.
Houston said UNC student volunteers acting as counselors and dorm assistants are important components of the program.
Project Uplift on-campus coordinator Shayla Higginbotham, a senior from West Virginia, said the program's student volunteers give it energy and focus.
"Adults don't exactly understand what we go through every day," Higginbotham said. "We try to interact with them in a way that they feel at home."
According to statistics, about half of all minority students admitted to UNC in 2000 enrolled. Houston said probably about half of the Project Uplift participants will apply to and enroll at UNC.
Many of those students return to the program as volunteers.
"Project Uplift is a great program," said sophomore Norledia Moody of Gaston, who participated two years ago. "It got me to go to school here."
Terrunda Taylor, a rising high school senior from Tyner, said attending Project Uplift led her to consider applying to UNC.
"I saw for myself that it was a good school," she said.
Another participant, Anthony Lee of Charlotte, also said he is interested in applying to UNC as a result of Project Uplift.
"Before, I thought it was only the elite," Lee said.
"Now I feel like I have a chance of getting in here."
Emily Drum can be reached
at edrum@email.unc.edu.
