Summer program at PFW immersing young African American men into the college experience

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Beginning today, 26 young African American men between the ages of 14 and 17 will be visiting the campus of Purdue University Fort Wayne for a summer program designed to help them take what may be their first major steps toward a college education.

The three-day, two-night opportunity is called the Purdue University Fort Wayne College Experience. It’s a collaboration between the university’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Bloom Project, a nonprofit organization helping young men of color between the ages of 12 and 18 in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne with career and college readiness. The 2021 experience is made possible through a grant from the Foellinger Foundation.

Activities will offer an immersive glimpse of college life including tours, class time, social activities, and a campus fair. Participants will also stay in campus housing to help them feel what it is like to be a college student.

This type of hands-on approach to learning has been shown to better engage young minds by making them part of the process.

“We are excited to host these students on our campus; I remember walking a mile in their shoes and attending similar opportunities which led me to enroll and graduate from my hometown university,” said MarTeze Hammonds, chief diversity officer, Purdue University Fort Wayne. “Programs like these are very important to the growth of the individual and to the growth and retention of diversity at Purdue Fort Wayne. We hope this experience will inspire these young men to consider becoming Mastodons.”

Of particular focus during this year’s experience is providing class time with faculty who specialize in STEM and business leadership in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science, and the Doermer School of Business, respectively.

The college fair will include representatives of several areas including admissions, financial aid, student housing, student life and leadership, career development, study abroad, the fitness center, the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, and human resources.

Each experience is intended to help fulfill Project Bloom’s commitment to help young men of color become part of the solution to societal problems through impactful actions, focused instruction, and serving others.

Ultimately, program organizers want participants to envision themselves on a college campus with a strong desire to pursue and achieve a post-secondary education.

Much of the academic immersion during the experience will take place on Tuesday between 10:05 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The students will be divided into separate groups for the sessions.

• STEM tracks: 10:05 a.m.-12:05 p.m. and 1:05-3:05 p.m., Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Building, Room 226
• Business tracks: 10:05 a.m.-12:05 p.m. and 1:05-3:05 p.m., Neff Hall, Room 333
• Campus Fair: 3:15-4:30 p.m., Helmke Library Skybridge

The Purdue Fort Wayne College Experience wraps up Wednesday with an award ceremony and presentations between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. in the Science Building, Room 168.

Additional newsgathering opportunities may also be arranged upon request. Contact Geoff Thomas at [email protected] or 260-437-7657 to help facilitate.

For more information about the program, contact MarTeze Hammonds at [email protected] or 260-481-0396.

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