Crystal Scarlett, English teacher with the Public Schools of Robeson County (PSRC) Early College and UNCP alumna along with Dr. Laura Hakala, Associate Professor in the English, Theatre, and World Languages Department arranged for PSRC Early College students to visit UNC Pembroke on October 23, 2024.  Students in the National English Honor Society, the High School Affiliate of Sigma Tau Delta, as well as the Math Club toured the campus and attended UNCP classes during an exciting day.  Dr. Hakala serves as the sponsor for Sigma Tau Delta at UNC Pembroke, and she is the Interim Writing Center Director. 

The visit “went exceptionally well and I enjoyed how engaged the students were while on campus,” Scarlett said.

PSRC Early College students interacted with UNCP professors and students, participated in classroom exchanges, and received gift bags from the English, Theatre, and World Languages Department.  They visited Dr. Cyndi Miecznikowski’s Civic Writing class as well as a Shakespeare class with Dr. Roger Ladd.  In Dr. Miecznikowski’s class, her students were working on opinion pieces using models from The Washington Post and The New York Times. 

“To get students generating lots of ideas based on what they had read and already knew about their chosen topics, I taught a little rhetorical theory,” Dr. Miecznikowski said.

Ventures like these between Early College students and UNC Pembroke allow students to make informed decisions about their future college goals and plans. 

“My students commented on enjoying the writing instruction by Dr. Miecznikowski as well as how engaging Dr. Ladd was as he explained course content.  They are already asking when they can visit campus again,” Scarlett said.

A group of these students also attended the Zine Making Workshop in UNCP’s Writing Center on September 27, 2024.