4:38 p.m., May 6, 2010----This spring, 65 students from four middle schools in Kent and Sussex counties, along with 59 parents, got an opportunity to learn more about college life at a special Visitation Day on the University of Delaware's Newark campus.

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The students -- from Central Middle School in Dover, Georgetown Middle School, Mariner Middle School in Milton and Milford Middle School -- had a full day on campus that included demonstrations and campus tours.

The University of Delaware's Office of Admissions, along with the assistance of the College of Education Center for Teacher Education (i.e. Academic Support Program Inspiring Renaissance Educators (ASPIRE) Program), College of Engineering's Office of Pre-College and Special Programs and Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics administered demonstrations and workshops.

“It's never too early for students to start thinking about college and how to prepare for it,” said Terry Whittaker, senior associate director of admissions at UD and organizer of the event. “We felt this event would be a way to inform these young students and their parents about UD's Commitment to Delawareans and to show them the preparation that will be needed for them to succeed at the college level. We also wanted parents to know that a college education is attainable and affordable.”

The morning included a visit the Exelon Trading Center and engineering demonstrations on such topics as hydrogen fuel cell cars, robotics and bridge design.

A pre-college information fair featured representatives from the Academic Support Program Inspiring Renaissance Education (ASPIRE), the Delaware Commission of Higher Education, the Delaware Department of Education, Delaware 4-H Clubs, the Delaware Governor's School for Excellence, Minorities Achieving Collegiate Success, UD's Summer College Program and the UD Upward Bound Program.

The afternoon included college preparation workshops for students that included such topics as why attend college, how to get to college and the University's Commitment to Delawareans. At the same time, parents could attend workshops on the Commitment, financing a college education and engagement with teachers and counselors.

Students participating in the event were selected by schools, based on recommendations from teachers, counselors and administrators, and they represented their schools as ambassadors who could report their experiences back to their fellow classmates.

For the parents, Melva Ware, director of the ASPIRE program housed in UD's Delaware Center for Teacher Education, and Shannon Griffin, director of the National Parent Leadership Institute, talked about the need “to pursue 'college by design,' getting information about required course and achievement indicators required for admission” so that they can plan effectively.

Ware and Griffin also discussed the importance of effective networking with school counselors and teachers and talked about parents establishing college planning communities in their own schools.

After the event, Miriam S. Targonski, guidance director at Sussex Central High School, wrote to Whittaker, “What a great program you had to inspire these students with their parents as they embark on some of the most important years of their life! I was happy to hear that the University has started at the middle school years in their recruitment, as students and parents will hear from college reps what we high school counselors have been preaching for years!”

UD's Commitment to Delawareans is an academic roadmap, providing students in middle and high school with information on the courses and the level of performance needed to be confident of gaining admission to the University's Newark campus. The Commitment also ensures that UD will meet the demonstrated financial need of Delawareans up to the cost of tuition, fees, room, board and books, while placing affordable limits on the requirement for student borrowing.

Photos by Evan Krape