The University of the Arts once again welcomed juniors and seniors from high schools into its pre-college summer institute. UArts has been touted as the country’s most dynamic summer program for students passionate about the visual and performing arts and this past summer proved to be no different.

It started July 10 with students moving onto the campus and taking courses. It ended Aug. 6. The acclaimed four-week residential programs rewarded the kids with three college credits.

Heather Jo Wingate, coordinator of pre-college programs and outreach, the students had the opportunity to create their own schedules.

“We have several programs. We have a dance program, musical theater, acting, art and media and a jazz program for music. And so, depending on what program the student was in, they participated in courses, college-level courses, from Monday through Friday,” Wingate said.

“The program also includes lots of field trips, going to see exhibitions or going to see guest artists. We also have some social activities that they get to participate in, field trips to the beach and New York City.”

She described how the pre-college institute helped to develop the kids beyond just academics.

“I think they’ve taken an incredible amount from the experience. Not only do they get the academic element of it, where they’re actually participating in college-level courses on a college campus, there’s also a social element of living in residence hall and being on their own even if it’s just for a couple of weeks that really sort of fosters their independence,” she said.

“So, what we saw a lot this summer was not only students who were learning new mediums, but sort of learning a whole new skill set that they could take with them.”

Wingate has been the program coordinator for over a year and a half, but was previously on the faculty and before that, a student.

“Each one of my roles has been very different. I loved being a student here in pre-college. I felt very much at home in the university, and that’s why I ended up choosing University of the Arts as the college I went to,” she said.

“So of course I loved being a student in the undergraduate program, and I researched how I could get involved.”

Christina Day, senior lecturer in the undergraduate crafts department, taught pre-college classes. She has been working with summer students since 2006.

“It’s something that I’ve really enjoyed, because getting to know students at that age right when they’re figuring out what they’re good at and what they like to do genuinely, it’s a really interesting age to be,” Day said.

The students are ages 16–18 and Day felt that this was just when they started to become more sure of themselves.

“They take a lot of risks. They’re willing to try different things,” she said.

“It’s really about turning people in the right direction.”

“I think situations like this, experiences like this help wake children a little bit earlier,” she added.

Richard Mitchell, 17, participated in the summer program for the second year in a row. He is now a senior at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School and expressed satisfaction over his time spent enrolled in the UArts program.

“I actually live in the suburbs, and being able to come out to Philadelphia and just kind of experience what the atmosphere was like in the city, it was exciting and all around, it was just really awesome. I know that a lot of kids missed home, but to me, it was a chance to be independent. It was very freeing,” Mitchell said.

He said he wants to major in musical theater, adding that this program prepared him for the next challenge in his life.

“It made me realize that I was out there for myself and I had to do what I needed to do in order to be successful. So, it wasn’t intimidating. It was just more eye-opening,” he said.

Mitchell also offered advice for other students who were interested in participating in this program.

“They’re going to find out who they are and what they want to be through this experience,” he said.

Wingate had words of encouragement as well.

“We saw a lot of students who were starting to advocate for themselves, learned a lot more about themselves and trusted their instincts, were very confident by the end of the program,” she said.

“I would say that the three main tings that I hope they took away was number one confidence, number two, a new set of skills and techniques, and I guess I would say the third thing is, I hope they take away a broadened view of the arts.”