Wednesday, July 17, 2002
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Wednesday, July 17, 2002 |
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Teen University offers interactive learning Armed with spray paint and stencils, students in Clayton State's "Teen University," a two-week long academic camp run via the University's Division of Continuing Education (CE), are making an indelible mark on America's highways - or at least attracting the attention of America's highway travelers. Students ages 13 through 15 who have chosen art as one of their Teen University classes have had the unique experience of painting and decorating a van. One side of the vehicle displays streams, trees, and fish, while the other depicts cave-like drawings of animals and fictitious creatures. Chris Kolloff, a DeKalb county teacher involved in Teen University, thought it would be interesting to let kids help paint his $350 Ford van in preparation for his personal vacation across America. Also supervising the project was John Price, Fulton county teacher and Teen University coordinator. Said one young artist, 15-year-old Duwayne Echols, "I came to Teen University to make new friends, and because it's something I've never done before. Plus, art is one of my hobbies." Echols, a student at Fairburn's Creekside High School, painted a yellow cat on the van's spare tire cover. Thirteen-year-old Sam Ridenhaur, intent on designing the perfect snake for the van's menagerie, said, "I'm at Teen University to help get organized and learn some study-skills." Ridenhaur is a student at Fairburn's Arlington Christian School. Also present at the van-painting were Teen University councilors Amanda Staples and L.J. Holmes. "I'm a education major at Georgia Southern University, and when I heard about this enrichment program for teenagers, I decided to take full advantage. I enjoy kids...that's the main thing," said Staples, 19. Teen University councilor Holmes, whose mother June Holmes works in CE at Clayton State, anticipates graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in December. Holmes also got into the groove of painting as evidenced by the pictograph of a bull on the van's sliding door. The van begins its cross-country travel today as Kolloff plans to visit Gulfport, Miss., and Arkansas before heading west for Utah and San Diego. After a short stint in California, Kolloff will travel south to Mexico. Then the trip continues with a northern trek through Canada to Vancouver. Clayton State's popular Teen University is designed so that students ages 13 to 15 can experience learning and skills development without tests or homework. In addition, the interactive learning environment enhances the student's academic, cultural and physical skills and knowledge. Clayton College & State University is a state university of the University System of Georgia, located in Morrow.
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