T hough Duke is a detestable institution in nearly every other way, its Splash program is a student organization worthy of praise and emulation.
Undergraduates with a passion in anything from crocheting to the biology of zombies lead short, interactive seminars for one day to teach middle and high school students. In addition to more eccentric classes, students can learn about things like American politics and applying for college.
Its partnership with organizations like Girls Engineering Change also demonstrates Splash’s commitment to encouraging equal opportunity in fields traditionally dominated by men.
UNC’s Carolina Center for Educational Excellence offers weekend workshops in engineering topics year-round for kids ages 7 and up, but expanding these kinds of programs to other disciplines and incorporating UNC students as mentors would help boost youth engagement with our university.
The First Look initiative also gives middle school students a chance to experience life at UNC for a few hours, but implementing a program like Splash would solidify the learning connections between these young students and their future as college students.
UNC students demonstrate their passion for higher education every day. Let’s allow that passion to be shared with the next generation — even if we are borrowing the idea from that school down the road.
