CHAMPS

Over the past 13 years, 30 new students from Laurens County middle schools have been selected annually to enter the program. Students are chosen from underprivileged family situations: low family income levels, low level of education attainment of the parents, large family size, and broken family structure. The selection process includes interviews with the family and the applicant, a teacher reference, and a reference from a community member not related to the family.

The program last six years, from the student's seventh grade year until his or her high school graduation.

The CHAMPS curriculum is divided into two major phases:

(1) four years of a two-week, on-campus, residential curriculum focused on the humanities, fine arts, sciences, character education and computer training beginning with rising seventh grade students and

(2) two years of comprehensive college prep and off-campus internship curriculum.
After the completion of the residential program, follow-up activities are conducted with the students and their parents/guardians one Saturday a month until 10th grade.

During the summers before their 11th and 12th grades, the students are assisted with college preparation and in gaining internship opportunities in area businesses to give them a sense of responsibility and independence. A portion of their earnings is saved toward the students' higher education expenses.