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Contact:

Anide J. Eustache

Communications Office

South Orange & Maplewood School District

Office:  (973)762-5600, ext. 1834 | Email:  aeustach@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

South Orange & Maplewood School District Partners with the Kean University Scholar Academy 

Eleven SOMSD middle-school students are a part of the first group of scholars accepted into the Kean Scholar Academy dual-enrollment program to put students on track for college success

June 18, 2021 – The South Orange & Maplewood School District is proud to announce its partnership with Kean University’s Scholar Academy. The newly launched Scholar Academy is a dual-enrollment initiative that will prepare selected high school students for college by bringing them on campus to earn college credits and take part in mentorships, internships, and other college experiences starting in ninth grade.

Kean University’s innovative, new pre-college program, the Kean Scholar Academy offers qualified students the opportunity to earn college credits and participate in pre-college mentorships, internships, and other enrichment activities that support their academic journey toward college. This partnership is the District’s first time offering dual-enrollment college-based programming to students. Eleven middle-school students from SOMSD are taking part in the inaugural class, which Kean University announced in May.

Dr. Matthew Friedman, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction, says “We are so proud of the eleven SOMSD students who will be joining the inaugural Kean Scholar program.” Dr. Friedman continued “the eighth-grade students were invited to apply for the program by principals from Maplewood Middle School and South Middle School; they then had to submit an application and were chosen after a rigorous selection process from members of Kean University administration.”

Students from at least 12 school districts from multiple counties were nominated and chosen by their principals for selection in the program. Criteria for the program are based on grades, school attendance, involvement, and commitment to excel.  The inaugural class of the Kean Scholar Academy will include about 125 students. The first cohort starts in Summer 2021 when they will begin a four-week summer orientation on the University’s Union and Skylands campuses to learn about the college experience and meet members of their cohort.  Students will get a taste of college life and will begin attending classes on campus once per week starting in the Fall, and will also have twice-monthly team-building activities on Saturdays, they will attend a second session through synchronous in-person and virtual learning.

Jason Lester, Special Assistant to Kean University President and Executive Director of Kean Scholar Academy, shared, “by high school graduation, students may earn up to 12-15 college credits in their selected major and 40 – 60 college credits overall, the Academy will provide internships, mentoring, social-emotional learning activities and counseling to ensure that all students follow the path to graduation.”

Students will be enrolled in the Kean Scholar Academy for all four years of high school. In ninth and tenth grade, they will take college courses in English, math, and prerequisite subjects with other Academy students. In their last two years, they will take classes in their major alongside other Kean students. At the same time, they will take high school classes and will also have the opportunity to work with municipal and business community members to research, investigate and provide solutions to issues in their communities.  

“High-quality postsecondary educational partnerships can be very valuable to a school district. However, dual enrollment opportunities resulting in students earning transferable college credits are extremely valuable,” says Dr. Ronald Taylor, Superintendent of Schools.  He continued, “the rising cost of college today has been well documented. Besides the cost savings, the impact of an authentic opportunity for high school students to experience in-person on-campus ‘college life’ is invaluable and can positively impact their life’s trajectory. We are very thankful to bring this opportunity to the students and families of our community.”

Kean University will provide technology, some transportation and other support services to students.   Also, students in the Scholar Academy will have an individualized education plan based on their academic interests. During their tenure, students will receive a student ID for entrance to school buildings as well as be provided a stipend for a meal plan to use when on campus.    

“We are really proud of this partnership with Kean because it ties into the District’s focus on building partnerships with local and regional universities,” says Dr. Friedman.  He went on to share, “the program is so rich, we are preparing students for their future and they are going to be immersed in academic college culture, among the many great opportunities, one of the key highlights is that upon graduating high school and completing the Scholar program, students will have an opportunity to travel to the University’s campus in China, Wenzhou-Kean University.”

The following SOMSD students will be taking part of the inaugural Kean Scholar Academy:

Maplewood Middle School:

• Sherry Chen
• Sharon Chen
• Josephine Brophy
• Tessa Lipkin
• Timothy Van de North
• Marahbelle Dumay
• Yael Ben-Adi

South Orange Middle School:

• Sophia Halm
• Jada Fowlkes
• Kennedy Gilyard
• Carter Weiss 

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About the South Orange & Maplewood School District

The School District of South Orange and Maplewood serves more than 7,200 students in ten schools, including one early-childhood center, six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The community and its schools are racially and economically diverse with more than 90 percent of Columbia High School graduates planning to attend college each year.   The mission of the South Orange Maplewood School District is to empower and inspire each student to explore and imagine, to pursue personal passions, and to collectively create a better future by creating a learner-centered environment through multiple pathways; re-imagined structures, systems and supports; innovative teaching; partnering with families; and maximizing community expertise and resources.

About Kean University

Founded in 1855, Kean University was the first public post-secondary institution in New Jersey. With a rich history of excellence and innovation in higher education, Kean is a world-class, vibrant and diverse university offering more than 50 undergraduate majors and more than 60 options for graduate study, including six doctoral programs in a variety of disciplines.