The Program

The goal in working with each scholar is to ensure that they have the academic skills and habits to succeed at the next level. Mornings over the summer focus on skills in math and English, two disciplines in which weak skills often create a drag on student success in first generation college aspirants.

While students are not tested in Campbell Scholars, their mastery of specific skills are tracked and supported over the course of the program. The program conducts academic research to identify high leverage skills that can be taught, transferred, and applied in during the school year.

Parent and family engagement is one of the primary building blocks in any effort to improve academic and life outcomes in youth. None of our parents have graduated from college, and a significant number have not graduated from high school. The Campbell Scholars program works closely with each family to offer support, explain choices, and answer questions at every point along the college and career pathway. We become a consistent point of contact for parents regarding any issue that may impact their child’s academic success or development. The trust and relationships compounds in each year, allowing us to engage in mindset work with parents as we move closer to the end of high school and beginning of college.

High achieving students who graduate from an independent high school are far more likely to graduate from college, regardless of socio-economic background. In the Campbell Scholars Program, we look to imbue our students with the confidence and feeling of belonging that is shown to significantly improve college persistence and graduation rates. Our students understand that administrators exist to support student success, and that asking for help is a sign of engagement and strength, not of being out of place.

Campbell Scholars also build experience in cross-cultural community building and mindfulness, key skills required to navigate the transition to college socially and emotionally.

The end point for The Campbell Scholars Program is successful career placement for our scholars. Because first generation college aspirants often lack access role professional role models outside of their schools, our program connects our students with apprenticeship, internship, and mentoring opportunities with corporations and professionals in a wide range of disciplines. Like most selective independent schools, we have many disciplines represented in our alumni and parent community at Campbell Hall; we are able to leverage our social capital to open up access for our scholars.

Part of the vision for the Campbell Scholars Program is for our students to become role models who leverage their academic and career influence to make an impact in their families, their neighborhoods, and their community. As part of the requirement of our program, our scholars engage in a community project designed to imbue a sense of social responsibility and possibility. The program stresses that scholars are stewards of a very special opportunity, and that the positive impact should ultimately be experienced by others.

A long-term goal is for Campbell Scholars to be community leaders who use their academic and professional standing as leverage to make a positive difference. Campbell Scholars engage in project-based or sustained service to the community as part of their commitment. The program provides guidance, structure, and networking opportunities to ensure that the experience is rich, rewarding, and educational.