Last week, WRA hosted the FAME (Fund for Advancement of Minorities Through Education) Academy, an organization from the nearby city of Pittsburgh, PA. According to Mr. Floyd Cephas, FAME Academy Manager, FAME is a non-profit organization that has been in existence for almost 20 years. While the group of approximately 40 students were only on our campus for one week, this marked the sixth and final week of their summer studies. These students are rising 7th through 9th graders.

The program aims to provide “the quality of an independent school education to students who otherwise may not have that access because of financial barriers,” explained Mr. Cephas. One of the ways they accomplish this is through scholarships to independent schools.

The group, which stayed on our campus, recently concluded five weeks at Shady Side Academy, Mr. Cephas’ alma mater. The FAME Academy program picks promising students and prepares them for potential membership in the FAME Scholar program, according to Mr. Cephas. The FAME Scholar program actually finances the scholarships for high school students.

After spending five weeks learning in the classroom, the main focus Mr. Cephas says “has been culminating projects” during their time at WRA. In short, he said, “We’re asking students to apply their learning this week.” All of their hard work concluded with presentations and demonstrations in front of their families on Friday.

In summation, Mr. Cephas shared, “It’s been a great summer and this week at WRA has been a nice cap.” Mr. Cephas also shared that two students in the FAME Academy program will join the WRA student body in the fall. This fact made many students appreciate all that WRA and other independent schools have to offer.

“What they originally thought would be a world apart” has become a place where they “feel very much welcome and very much as if they belong here,” said Mr. Cephas.