Top 5 Moments from 8 Weeks of Summer Fun!

After five weeks of our Summer Scholars academic program, one week of the Chris Duhon Basketball Camp, and two weeks of the Justice Theater Project Drama Camp we thought it was worth reflecting on a few great moments from this summer.

1. Final Speeches – After five weeks of writing and practicing a variety of types of speeches from informational to persuasive, our Summer Scholars presented in front of their fellow students, staff and supporters.  I personally learned how to throw the perfect sleep-over party and was convinced to watch less TV.
2. Poetry for the Parents – Another group of our Summer Scholars students focused on poetry.  Their final project culminated in poetry books that were read to a packed room of their very very proud parents.
3. Waffles from Around the World – After studying about the science of growing food, the logistics of transporting food, and the economics of producing food - our Summer Scholars kids got to take a break on the last day to eat some good food.  Delicious waffles with toppings from around the world (including butter that the kids learned to make from buttermilk)
4. Duke Basketball Inspiration – All the campers during the Chris Duhon camp got the unique opportunity to hear the inspiring stories of some of the best players in the college game.  Nolan Smith, Miles and Mason Plumlee, Casey Peters, Todd Zafirovski, Seth Curry, and Andre Dawkins all stopped by to speak, show off their 3-point shooting skills, and sign autographs for a great group of kids.                                                                                                                  
5. Hip Hop Shakespeare – After two weeks of reading, singing, and dancing, 65 campers put on an amazing performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a hip hop twist.  Both performances were done to packet houses of friends, family, and community members.  It was the embodiment of Dream-Do-Achieve and the new confidence and big smiles were on every kids face!                                                                                                                     

Thanks to all of our great individual, foundation and corporate supporters that made this summer such a success.  Special thanks is in order for the scholarship support from the Triangle Community Foundation’s Send a Kid To Camp Program, the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Cardinal Gibbons High School and The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi.

August 17, 2010 at 3:17 pm | Our Students | No comment

Job Posting: Programming Assistant

Could you be the next member of the Emily K Center team?  We are seeking a part-time employee to serve in the role of Programming Assistant.  You can get more information about the position here.  Instructions for how to apply are outlined in the job description.

July 19, 2010 at 9:44 am | Our Team | No comment

Happy Birthday to Ignite!

We only thought it appropriate to take a second to re-post Ignite Social Media’s blog entry celebrating their 3rd birthday.   Without our partnership with them, this Emily K Center blog wouldn’t exist.  Thanks for growing with us and supporting our kids!

July 13, 2010 at 11:17 am | Our Team | No comment

Obama and the Durham Bulls Talk about the Emily K Center

The Center has gotten some great “shout outs” in the last week that are worth taking a look at.

Last Friday the National Champion Duke Men’s Basketball team traveled to the White House to meet President Obama.  In the midst of praising the team’s on court success, the President was also quick to mention the off court work of the players and coaches – with special recognition of the Emily K Center.  The full video of the speech is here (with the mention of the Emily K Center around minute 6:55) and a nice article that summarizes the speech is here.

Also, as many of you know, we recently won an online competition hosted by the new Durham restaurant Tobacco Road.  They have just posted a great video on their blog about our victory which features some of the Durham Bulls talking about how their homerun hitting results in money for the Emily K Center (and some good free food too).  Check it out here.

June 1, 2010 at 10:49 am | Our Organization | No comment

A Special Message From Coach K and the Emily Krzyzewski Center

“My mom (Emily Krzyzewski) never even went to high school but she knew the value of education.  She’s the best person in my life.  Her commitment to me pushed me into a position where I was going to be successful.  That’s what the Emily K Center is doing too.”

-Coach K, Chair of the Emily Kzyzewski Center

As you think about your own mother on Mother’s Day, we hope you will take a few minutes to enjoy a short video message from Coach K about his mother Emily and the work of the organization that her legacy inspires.

If you are still looking for a way to recognize your own mother or grandmother this year, or even a special high school or college graduate, please consider making a gift to the Emily K Center in their honor or memory.  A tax-deductible gift to the Center ensures that our students can continue on a pathway to success like the one Coach K traveled.

You can print the gift form and send a check or make a donation online.  At any gift level we can send a special card to your mother or graduate.  At a gift level of $1,000 or more you can have a brick engraved on our Walk of Dreams.

Due to the constraints of our online checkout process if you would like a card or brick, please e-mail the honoree’s contact information to Treat Harvey at info@emilyk.org.

May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Our Organization | No comment

Alejandra’s Tuesday!

Girija Mahajan, Educational Programming Specialist

Last week, I was lucky enough to follow Alejandra with a camera as she participated in her daily Pioneer Scholars programming. After spending an afternoon with her, two things became quite evident to me, she has a great laugh and loves to learn! Whether that is during tutor time or spring sports dance clinic. Check out the video below…

April 26, 2010 at 2:22 pm | Our Students | No comment

EKC Volunteer Live Out the Six Character Pillars

KARMAN KENT

Program Support Manager

The Emily Krzyzewski Center has had the privilege of having the support from a great number of volunteers over the past four years.  And yet, the importance of this support is not merely due to the number of volunteers, but moreover the quality and character of the people who choose to invest their time at the Center each week.  The impact of our programming is due, in large part, to the incredible caliber of our many volunteers and partners.  Ten of our Duke University volunteers/campus partners were recently recognized through the prestigious Student Affairs Distinguished Leadership and Service Awards.

The criteria for these awards set out to recognize Duke University students who have made outstanding contributions to the Duke, local and/or global community.  In doing so, they have demonstrated recognition of selflessness, generosity of service, nobility of character, dedication to the issues women face without formal recognition, and distinguished volunteer service.   In addition, the nominees were committed to building alliances through collective engagement, promoting the ideals of community and expanding the boundaries of learning.

We are incredibly proud of all of the nominees and winners whom we’ve had the privilege of partnering with in various capacities.  These volunteers, along with countless others give back in incredible ways to local universities and the Durham community as a whole.  We have high expectations that all of our volunteers are and will continue to do amazing things to creative positive change throughout the world!

April 23, 2010 at 12:46 pm | Our Team | No comment

Spring Break at the Emily K Center

Lauren Gardner

Our Pioneer Scholars work hard.  They spend hours every day doing extra academic work.  They set high expectations and challenge themselves.  But they also know how to have fun.  Thirty of our students had the chance over their Spring Break to come to the Center for days full of basketball, dancing, singing, games, good food, and just to have fun.  It was a great opportunity for some very deserving and very hard working kids.

Thanks to Coach Newman and Coach Clarke who came up from Florida to lead all the fun and for all the great volunteers from Bronto, Fidelity Investments, TYPE, D3 Community Outreach, and the Crazies who Care.  We thought you might enjoy seeing some of the fun we had!

April 20, 2010 at 3:22 pm | Our Students | No comment

Serving, Protecting, and Mentoring

Lauren Gardner
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Durham Police officers working off-duty at the Center provide not only security but also serve as role models and mentors to our kids.  Officer Salmon has worked at the Emily K Center since we opened in 2006 and like all of our officers he has become an important part of our success.  He took a few minutes recently to talk about why his role at the Center is an important one.

March 22, 2010 at 9:31 am | Our Team | No comment

Small Victories

GIRIJA MAHAJAN, Educational Programming Specialist

While all our students make great strides at Emily K during the academic year, we also want to highlight the small victories that encourage us to keep working hard. Group 7 has lots of things to be proud of this week:

Yemni, “I had kinda a low grade in English last quarter. So this quarter I spent more time asking the teacher questions about stuff I didn’t understand, and practicing my vocabulary. I just got my progress report and I have an A in English!”

Rafael, “In my Social Studies class we were studying the history of Africa and on Monday we took the unit test. I got 19 out of 20 right!”

Angel, “I got my progress report a few days ago and it was really good. I am improving in my classes. I did much better in English because I pay attention in class more and am taking better notes.”

Claudia, “In my Social Studies class I have to blog. This week I caught up on all my blogging and wrote five posts. I got all of the points for the assignment.”

March 11, 2010 at 5:58 pm | Our Students | No comment

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