OA Students Offered Admission to Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program

Oldenburg Academy students have again been offered the opportunity to study for free during a two-week summer session at Notre Dame.  A grant from the Lilly Foundation will cover the expense of the program, which offers a large selection of courses ranging from Film Production to Law, Public Speaking to Restorative Justice.  The summer program promises to be an enriching experience for Oldenburg Academy students wishing to immerse themselves in an academic experience at an elite institution.

Last summer, eight Oldenburg Academy students were selected to attend this prestigious Summer Scholars Program: Ava Henry of Shelbyville, IN; Christian Mack, Ainsley Sipples, Thomas Lohmuller, and Kloie Lehman of Batesville, Indiana; Lauren Richards and Kenlee Martin of Greensburg, Indiana; and Dominic Yane of Brookville, Indiana.

Senior Kenlee Martin, who enrolled in the “Identity and Pop Culture” course described it as “the best decision of my life.”  The course focused on various films and advertisements, exploring how personal values and ideas influence the kinds of media we consume and, subsequently, how   entertainment impacts our conception of society. Grateful for the opportunity, Martin said “the experience helped me learn alongside other students and professors.  I created life-long memories like meeting people from across the globe, experiencing campus like a real college student, and jumping into the Clarke Memorial Fountain.”  

Senior Lauren Richards had an equally edifying experience as a student in the “Gender and Culture in American Society” course.  The two-week course covered gender roles and gender stereotypes, where students explored the cultural differences of gender in the world.  Richards reminiscenced on her time at Notre Dame, noting “I still chat with my friends from the class daily. My Notre Dame experience was great and I could not have made a better choice taking that class.”

Oldenburg Academy President Annette Hunger expressed her gratitude for the Lilly Foundation’s generosity, stating, “Having the opportunity to study and engage with professors at Notre Dame during these summer sessions is a once in a lifetime event.  We are extremely grateful for the Lilly Foundation for providing this transformative experience to our students.”

Oldenburg Academy is committed to offering its students opportunities that challenge them academically and inspire them to be compassionate and engaged members of society.