Written by Dwight Bachman
Through Aug. 6, students from Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Norwich, Waterbury, Willimantic and out-of-state will attend intensive credit-bearing courses in math and writing, as well as rigorous workshops in social sciences, library research methods, public speaking, study skills and critical thinking. Those who are successful will be admitted as freshmen for Eastern's fall semester.
Organized around the theme of "Civility in Public Life," the students will come to campus having read "Dreamer," Charles Johnson's novel about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his role in the civil rights movement. Their classes will examine the role of race, ethnic origin, cultural differences and identity in America. Once on campus, students will be asked to read essays and poetry by Jimmy Santiago Baca, Rita Dove, Li Young Lee, Yusef Komunyakaa and others.
"For more than a quarter of a century, this program has made a difference," said Margaret Hébert, director of Eastern's STEP/CAP program. "We ask the students to be motivated, disciplined and ready to work hard to make the changes needed to start and then complete the transition from high school to college."
Successful STEP/CAP students have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, insurance executives, personnel managers and much more - remarkable achievement for young people labeled in high school as incapable of college level work.
Once students settle into Eastern and begin their classes, they will take a field trip to
