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This year, 513 students were enrolled into Professional and Continuing Education’s (PaCE) College for Kids (CFK) between July 20-24. Sixth through ninth graders who placed in the 90th percentile on the MAP or ISASP tests had the opportunity to choose three out of 37 classes to explore new interests or deepen their passions and knowledge.
CFK has remained generationally successful, PaCE Outreach Specialist Betsy Hall said.
“Generations have taken CFK classes. Past students of CFK have come back and now teach their own CFK class. Parents that went to CFK in the past now send their children,” Hall said. “CFK is regarded as a premier program in the Quad-Cities and a tradition that has continued for 46 years.”
Sustaining this legacy and tradition requires a nine-to-ten-month active planning cycle where it gives time for the PaCE staff to recruit instructors, manage registration, and coordinate campus logistics. This summer, they were able to bring over 500 gifted sixth through ninth graders from 84 different schools across Illinois and Iowa.
Working through the planning process and achieving a smooth and fun experience for students isn’t a solo job, PaCE Program Coordinator Kole Shuda said.
“Balancing all of these logistics while still creating a fun and meaningful experience is not without its challenges. It takes the entirety of the PaCE staff and the cooperation of all our other departments, too,” Shuda said. “We would simply not be able to hold this program if not for each and every staff member and volunteer understanding the importance of their role.”
Students are immersed in a classroom environment for a week of summer; this remains an opportunity for them to expand or discover passions while in a collaborative environment.
Shuda said he hopes students discover how learning can be engaging and enjoyable.
“I sincerely hope that our students leave CFK with a sense of curiosity, confidence and most importantly, excitement about learning, especially through utilizing our amazing campus and facilities to help with achieving this goal,” Shuda said. “Whether they discover a new passion, develop a new skill, or simply have fun trying something different, we want them to feel inspired to continue exploring their interests. It goes without saying that even if there are any surprises, students can take away knowing that maybe that topic or path isn’t right for them, which is still a valuable thing to know.”
To learn more about other programs through Black Hawk College, visit the College for Kids portal and you can also discover Adult Continuing Education opportunities by visiting PaCE websites linked above.