NINETY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE COLLEGE LIFE DURING INAUGURAL SUMMER SCHOLARS ACADEMY AT UMKC

Approximately 90 students slated to attend Southwest Early College Campus (SWECC) this fall will get their first taste of college life July 13-18, during the inaugural Summer Scholars Academy at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). The academy – designed for SWECC ninth-graders - will bring students to the UMKC campus for a week of academic enrichment, team building and fun. Most importantly, students will have the opportunity to earn their first college credit.
The academy will begin with student check-in at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 13 in the Cherry Street Residence Hall. During the week, the scholars will attend classes taught by college professors and master teachers, participate in fun events, such as movie night and swimming; share in team-building exercises, and write skits to present on the final evening of the camp. Media will have the opportunity to document this important first step for the students.
SWECC is an early college school in the Kansas City, Missouri School District, for grades 6-12, with a math and science emphasis. The school will open next month with 6th and 9th graders, 120 students in each grade. Students have an opportunity to earn significant college credits during their educational career at SWECC.
SWECC is designed and implemented by a set of five community partners: The Kansas City, Missouri School District, Kansas City’s Partnership for Regional Educational Preparation (PREP-KC), the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute (KCALSI), and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.
The goal of SWECC is to prepare Kansas City youth to successfully complete a four-year college degree and pursue rewarding careers in math, engineering, technology and science (METS), using a project-based curriculum with extended day and extended year opportunities.
Since the Kansas City area has more animal health and nutrition companies than any other place in the world, four of the leading veterinary med schools within approximately a 300-mile radius, and 199 life sciences companies located in 23 surrounding counties comprising the KC region, the METS focus is important for SWECC students to leverage these assets for success and critical to developing a well-qualified workforce to support the life sciences industry. The Summer Scholars Academy presents an opportunity to start students on the path to METS learning and college success.

SWECC entering class demographics 
                    Male  Female     African American    Hispanic   Caucasian    Other 
6th grade 49%     51%              64%                                    24%               11%                    1%
9th grade 46%     54%             59%                                     27%               11%                    3%