In addition organizing the Access Youth Academy summer camps, each year we work closely with our students to help them vie for competitive opportunities offered by other organizations and educational institutions. This year, we are proud to announce that Sharon L. and Victoria D. have been selected to receive Squash and Education Alliance scholarships to attend the Harvard Pre-College and Exeter Summer programs, respectively. At this time we can also celebrate Emely R.'s selection as one of The Mars Generation scholarship recipients to attend Space Camp. More information below about each student and the summer program they will attend.

This is the first year that the Squash and Education Alliance has partnered with Harvard, and only one scholarship was set aside for an urban squash student. We are thrilled but not surprised that Sharon was selected. Sharon is currently at the top of her junior class, and earned a 4.625 Grade Point Average last semester. She is an exemplary student, athlete, and all-around human being. For her summer studies, Sharon has selected a course on Race, Inequality, and Social Justice. Harvard's Pre-College program features Harvard-level content taught by Harvard professors. The experience will no doubt set Sharon up for success in her future college studies.

Exeter Summer is the gold standard for summer enrichment programs. The five-week blend of rigorous academics, sports training, and extracurricular activities draws thousands of applicants each year. This year, our very own Victoria will be one of 750 students from more than 40 countries and all 50 states to attend. Victoria is interested in becoming an FBI agent, so she selected Crime Scene Investigation for her primary Exeter Summer course. Exeter Summer features seminar-style classes and a 13:1 student to teacher ratio. That's why we nominated Victoria: she's not only a straight A student but also one of our strongest leaders and contributors in group discussions.

Space Academy explores college and career preparation through an immersive experience in science, technology, engineering, and math. Participants undergo a variety of astronaut training exercises, engineering challenges, and team-building activities, all culminating in an extended-duration simulated space mission. The Mars Generation scholarship program makes Space Camp possible for young people who have aptitude in STEM but do not have the resources to attend Space Camp. Only 9-12 Mars Generation scholarship recipients are selected each year, and Emely was one of them!