Middle Schoolers Heading to College for UH's Cougar Junior Scholars Camp

Honors College Program Introduces Houston Students to the College Experience

For middle school students, the concept of college can seem overwhelming. A large campus with thousands of students presents them with a much different learning environment. Thanks to the University of Houston’s Honors College, 27 local middle schoolers will discover that the transition to a university is an exciting and educational experience.

Each summer, the college hosts the annual Cougar Junior Scholars Camp, which offers 7th and 8th graders a chance to visit UH, explore the campus and most importantly, learn from the University’s esteemed faculty. This year’s camp delivers classes, workshops and activities July 21 – 25 at UH’s Honors College.

During their time on campus, Cougar Junior Scholars will study literature, writing, engineering and chemistry. They also will develop projects that introduce new ideas related to one of the following topics: “Globalization,” “Going Green,” “Superman Today: Solving the World’s Problems,” “Changes in Social Media” and “World Peace.”

Students also will match wits in a quiz bowl and embark on a scavenger hunt in which they explore UH’s popular Public Art Collection.

Among the Honors College professors participating in the Cougar Junior Scholars are: Gabriela Maya (literature), Robert Cremins (writing), Stuart Long (engineering) and Simon Bott (chemistry).

“This camp is important for students because it actually mimics life in college,” said Christine LeVeaux-Haley, assistant dean of the Honors College. “They take classes in a range of disciplines, so they will know what to expect at a university. A student might major in engineering, but he/she must know how to write and be familiar with various texts. Our goal is to deliver a holistic experience on a college campus.”

The Cougar Junior Scholars Camp complements other Honors College community engagement initiatives including Honors and the Schools. This multifaceted program includes Scholars in the Schools, which provides high school students with the opportunity to learn from Honors College faculty;  and Common Ground, which unites Houston-area English teachers and UH professors in dialogues focused on classic literary works.

To learn more about Cougar Junior Scholars, visit the program’s website.        

The Honors College at UH is a hub of excellence that serves the needs of gifted undergraduates in more than 100 fields of study and reflects the rich diversity of the University of Houston in its courses, faculty and students. For over 50 years, the Honors College has offered students the best of both worlds: the advantages of a small college together with the comprehensive resources and rich diversity of a large university. For more information about the Honors College, visit http://TheHonorsCollege.com

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