TAF Academy students are on the road to college and careers!

It may be summer vacation, but TAF Academy students have been staying busy, engaged, and excited about accomplishing their dreams for the future. TAF Academy’s Summer Bridge, STEM Internship, and College and Career Readiness programs have been on the road with students on college and career field trips throughout the summer. Here are some highlights:

August 9^th—Microsoft. High School students learned from Microsoft professionals about team-work and how to seize learning opportunities now in order to propel them into the future. Then, Microsoft reserved its Visitor’s Center for our exclusive use of Microsoft games and gadgets! So fun! We even caught a few students using playtime to network with the Microsoft professionals. Well-played!

July 12^th—Pacific Lutheran University. Students talked to admissions officers and undergrads about life at PLU, toured the campus and even got a peek at an international-themed dorm room. We topped off the visit with a trip to PLU’s cafeteria. Bustling with students and visitors and with its large offering of delicious food choices, the Commons offered a great taste of what life might be like as a PLU college student. One word: yum!

July 12^th—University of Washington Tacoma. Students saw what you get when you combine the prestige of a UW education with the benefits of a small, close-knit campus. Sitting in a tech-equipped lecture hall, TAF Academy students pictured what it would be like to go to UW Tacoma—hanging out in the oUWTpost Lounge, stopping at West Coast Grocery for snacks between classes, or hanging around the historic Tacoma neighborhood.

August 9^th—Seattle University. Students took a tour of SU’s beautiful Capitol Hill campus, then visited the OMA (Office of Minority Affairs) Student Lounge—a bright and welcoming space that felt like a friend’s apartment more than a school office. There, students chatted with current SU undergrads of color who are earning STEM-based degrees, discussing topics like SU’s commitment to diversity, financing college, and opportunities to get involved in the community.

TAF Academy students know that summer is the perfect opportunity to not just kick back and relax, but also to explore, learn, plan and grow. That’s just what they’re doing. Summer’s not over yet so stay tuned as our middle school students get in on the action at PopCap Games and the Museum of Flight!