RIDGWAY – Ridgway Secondary School Pre-Collegiate students have been actively involved in three separate programs hosted by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) on their campus this summer.

The first event involved fourteen middle school students during the second week of June. Rebekah LaSala, Jasmin Braund, Jack Middleton, Leta McNatt, Tashi Hackett, Grace Benasutti, Darren Reed, Samantha Masker, Shannen McKelvey, Quinn Strickler, Sophie Collier, Lacy Daley, Hunter Thomas and Chris Williams participated in a three-day science, technology, engineering and mathematics workshop at the UCCS campus. The six breakout workshops covered everything from rocketry and the theory of flight to robotics, wildlife biology and sports medicine. The students stayed in the dorms and ate in the campus cafeteria, maximizing their college experience while still in middle school. One week later, ninth graders Audrey Jossi, Steven Schroeder and Angela VerStraete attended a one-week workshop on the UCCS campus. Each student was involved in a project-based learning experience focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics and chose to learn computer gaming and programming. The students developed their own computer game and presented their finished work at a banquette recognizing their efforts.

Eleventh grade students Josh Lasala and Richelle Walker also visited the UCCS campus in June, attending two weeks of college coursework. They each spent eight to nine hours a day in college classes, earning six college credits from the University of Colorado. Their exposure to college life was invaluable.

The Ridgway Secondary School Pre-Collegiate program is an invaluable asset to the school and has grown from eight students three years ago to over sixty this fall. Although the program does not guarantee acceptance into college, the college preparatory work and exposure is invaluable and will benefit any student’s resume when applying to for higher education during their senior years. The program also supports students with scholarship options during their senior year.

Interested applicants can learn more about the program by visiting the Pre-Collegiate Development website at: web.uccs.edu/pcdp/ or by contacting Ridgway Secondary School Counselor Rick Williams at 626-5788, ext 2303.