91福利社

Class of 2028 Summer Academic Institute

Another Summer Academic Institute (SAI) was a smashing success as 91福利社OP welcomed its biggest class ever! 

The Summer Academic Institute鈥檚 55th year of welcoming students to 91福利社was an unforgettable experience, bringing in the biggest class in the history of the program. Getting to know 50 new students made for a wild summer, but the program was a resounding success, providing a diverse group with the opportunity to explore their academic interests, develop essential life skills, and forge lasting friendships. 

Eager students joined us from across the U.S. and beyond to get to know the Skidmore campus as their new home away from home. The incoming students represent a wide range of geographical backgrounds, with folks joining us from states as far-flung as New Mexico, Texas, Ohio, and Indiana; many students hailing from closer states like New York, Vermont, and New Jersey; and international students coming from Cambodia and North Macedonia. The students鈥� varied experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds will undoubtedly add a vibrant and enriching dimension to the campus community. 

The program offered a wide range of academic workshops and activities to hone students' knowledge and skills. With STEM offerings in math and physics, social sciences courses in political science, and humanities courses focused on critical reading and college writing, participants had the chance to delve into topics that sparked their curiosity and build essential skills for academic success. Students also received tutoring support from our exceptional summer team of current 91福利社students and recent graduates, helping to create a network of OP community members both new and old. 

In addition to rigorous coursework, the program emphasized personal growth and social development. Each morning before class, the entire OP Class of 2028 met for community-building activities focused on mindfulness, gratitude, stress reduction, and time management. Some memorable meetings included minute-to-win-it games and a halfway point celebratory dance party. Students also networked with and learned from representatives from other offices such as Financial Aid, the Counseling Center, Health Services, Off-Campus Study and Exchanges, the Career Development Center, and many more.  

For a bit of fun, the program featured a series of exciting weekend trips. Students explored the region with trips to The Fun Spot for mini-golf, laser tag, and roller skating and Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Water Park. They also enjoyed well-earned relaxation during a self-care spa day. When on campus, it was exciting to see an influx of students who enjoyed spending free time in the Schupf Family IdeaLab in the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences, completing hands-on physics homework, 3D printing, and expressing their creativity through painting.  

As we reflect on the success of this year's summer bridge program, we are already looking forward to the next one and are committed to continuing to provide students with a transformative experience that equips them for future academic and personal success. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the students, faculty, staff, and volunteers who made this year's program such a memorable one. 

2024 Events and Programming

OP is staying productive 鈥� and having fun! 鈥� both in and outside the classroom.

Activity in the OP office has been in full swing over the past year, with record numbers of students utilizing the space to study, collaborate, and socialize. We鈥檝e also seen wonderful engagement with the full suite of workshops and programs we offer to keep students informed and thriving.  

We鈥檝e been focused on developing support for students in every facet of academic and campus life. This year, it was crucial that we partner with the Financial Aid Office for a FAFSA workshop to provide students with step-by-step guidance on navigating the new application system. Skidmore鈥檚 Financial Aid Office, as always, was an amazing resource for our students.  

We kept up a number of our familiar spring programs as well, with the OP Book Club, study day writing spaces, and stress relief spaces proving popular destinations for students. The book club discussions were lively and thought-provoking, and the writing and stress relief spaces were combined to help students tackle their midterms and finals while also balancing time to relax and de-stress.  

The OP lunch series continued with engaging discussions on a variety of topics related to student success. These get-togethers provide opportunities to share wisdom on time management strategies, study techniques, and mental health resources. But the real star of these events is the delicious meal that students and staff enjoy together.  

Our annual Mentor-Mentee Mixer was also a fantastic success, allowing students the chance to connect with experienced mentors who offered guidance, support, and advice. Mentors shared their personal experiences and offered valuable insights into their academic and professional journeys, and we can鈥檛 wait to see where these mentoring connections lead for our underclass students.  

The second annual Major Declaration Party celebrated our sophomore students with a festive gathering as they finalized the paperwork to lock into their academic path. The event featured music, food, games, and chances for students to connect with others in their field. 

Looking beyond life on campus, 鈥淭able Talk: Graduation, Now What?鈥� featured a panel of alumni who shared their experiences and advice on life after graduation. They discussed career paths, graduate school options, and the importance of networking. Attendees were able to ask questions and gain valuable advice for their own post-graduation plans. 

In anticipation of graduation, we had a lively Senior Celebration for our Class of 2024 students. The seniors opted for a night of roller skating, go karts, and laser tag as their final OP send-off. The ceremony featured speeches from faculty, staff, and students, as well as a slideshow of memorable moments. Graduates received their diplomas and celebrated with their families and friends.  

We鈥檝e had an excellent spring and summer, and we can鈥檛 wait to share all the exciting events we鈥檙e working on for the 2024-25 academic year! 

OP Staff Updates

We鈥檝e had some big changes in the office. Get acquainted with our current team.

Kelli Rouse, director of the Opportunity Program, has had quite a busy schedule throughout the spring and summer. She continues to work one-on-one with students and host relevant programming 鈥� Cooking with Kelli is still a crowd favorite. Throughout February and March, Rouse and Travis Strattion worked diligently to accept the incoming OP cohort. In June, Rouse was afforded the opportunity to represent 91福利社 at the DIS International Educators Conference in Stockholm, Sweden. There, she met with study abroad educators from across the globe, learned about best practices in utilizing universal design, and experienced the wonderful tradition of Fika. Upon returning to campus, it was time to welcome the largest OP class in Skidmore鈥檚 history: the Class of 2028. In August, 50 OP scholars successfully completed the Summer Academic Institute. Within this same time frame, two colleagues, Travis Strattion and Meghan Navarro, left 91福利社 to pursue other opportunities. However, the team is excited to welcome new members!

Joshlin Sheridan, academic counselor and STEM advisor, joined the Opportunity Program staff in May. She enjoyed planning for and participating in the Summer Academic Institute, where she brought enthusiasm to the daily morning meetings, encouraging students to focus on mindfulness and gratitude, sharpen study skills, and develop friendships through trivia games. A highlight of her summer was eating Dippin鈥� Dots and getting to know Class of 2028 students while standing in line for rides at Six Flags Great Escape. Sheridan continues to work with first-year students by co-teaching Academic Transformations, a college and career preparation course. This fall, Sheridan has interacted with and advised many other OP students, and she feels humbled to work with such a talented and unique student body. Sheridan is a member of the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) and works on initiatives to support first-generation college students. Off campus, Sheridan has enjoyed hiking trails in the Adirondacks and Acadia National Park. 

Devin Madkin, administrative assistant, will be celebrating her eighth year working for the Opportunity Program in March. She continues to maintain the office鈥檚 everyday functions, financial responsibilities, marketing, and social media. During the spring semester, she helped plan the summer program, organize programs, and onboard a new employee. In the beginning of the summer, she prepared the office for the summer program, buying supplies for students and SAI staff. She booked all the weekend trips and transportation for SAI and made sure everyone had what they needed on those trips. When Madkin wasn鈥檛 in the office, she was out enjoying the beautiful weather, taking fun day trips to different locations around New York, and spending time with family and friends. She also said goodbye to her amazing 11-year-old Toyota, 鈥淐arl,鈥� and purchased a new one.

Adam Evans, learning associate for humanities/social sciences, had a fantastic year of working with students and participating in fun projects. His spring semester featured a lively and informative OP Book Club focused on Joe Sacco鈥檚 graphic novel 鈥淧alestine,鈥� and he spent the summer developing new content for his Academic Writing course on food politics. It was bittersweet to see a number of students he worked closely with graduate with the Class of 2024, but he鈥檚 looking forward to seeing all the wonderful things they will go on to accomplish. He鈥檚 also happy that the OP office has been bustling with students, so there鈥檚 been little down-time to be sentimental. Outside of the office, Evans occupied his time with a fishing and camping trip in Florida and an awesome spring break with his family in Philadelphia.