Press release
Twenty-two sophomores and juniors from Athens Christian Preparatory Academy toured Texas A&M University Tuesday as part of a school-sponsored field trip. The trip which was designed to get the soon to be seniors excited about going to college, was chaperoned by ACPA faculty Brooke McElroy, Dylan Taylor, Vica Matlock and Melanie Whatley.
ACPA students tour of the campus included, visiting the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, participating in an improvised yell practice in front of Kyle Field and learning about all the traditions that flourish on the campus.
McElroy, an Aggie alum herself, said, “I think the coolest thing about the trip was the impromptu yell practice the students participated in. There were numerous responses from the college students that were heading to their classes and I think our kids were amazed by the interactions.”
“I absolutely think the kids are more motivated to go to college. This was a great opportunity for them to actually experience a taste of college life; I think being able to actually visit, not just see pictures and explore websites, really gave a lot of them a boost and a sense of drive to further their education after high school,” McElroy added.
Dillon Santelli a junior at ACPA felt right at home on the College Station campus, “I loved it! The atmosphere is so welcoming that I felt a part of it. A&M is definitely a school I will be applying to.” Santelli who plans to study Wildlife Management or Business said, “I am really looking forward to making new friends and memories and starting the next chapter in my life.”
ACPA Headmistress Teresa DeMay believes that it is important for her students to see what ACPA is preparing them for. “We work our kids pretty hard, so it is helpful for them to gain the perspective to see what all that hard work is for,” she said. “Seeing the college environment in action inspires them to do what it takes to get there,” she added.
Ninety-six percent of ACPA’s student body goes on to college. Recent graduates and current seniors have been accepted to schools such as Texas A&M, University of Texas, Texas Tech, Auburn and Baylor. ACPA is beginning to send younger students on college visits as well because according to DeMay, “The time to realize you want to go to college is not your senior year.”
While the sophomores and juniors went to College Station, the 7th thru 9th graders took a separate trip to the Perot Museum of Science and Nature in Dallas. Freshman Gavin Hardin was particularly impressed with a device at the museum that could measure neuronal activity in the brain. “I attached it to my forehead and my ear and my own brain activity made several ping pong balls bounce up and down”, Hardin said.
“We love to take kids to places like the Perot Museum where they can get hands on experience that reinforces what they have learned in class”, DeMay said. “Some of the kids that we take have never been to a museum before and it is an incredible eye-opening experience for them”, DeMay added.