What’s Up Vol. 11, Issue 15 July 19, 2017
Students From Greek High School Spend Summer Week at Widener Ten students from a Greece-based high school recently spent a week at Widener taking part in leadership and engineering programs. The visit by the group from American Community Schools of Athens, or ACS Athens, was part of a partnership formalized between Widener and ACS Athens in December.
W. Medeiros, dean of Academic Affairs and the school’s Institute for Innovation and Creativity. The group, made up of students who are American, Greek, and of other nationalities, stayed in Harris Hall and were assisted throughout the week by Widener student Aidan Hostetter. Those who participated in the leadership programming spent time examining the attributes of leading self, others, and change. They talked about inequality, and made presentations on the topic. They also worked on developing their own leadership philosophies, which the university presented to them on framed certificates at the conclusion of the program. Student Elina Pipas decided on “Why Worry?” for her philosophy, and she was grateful for the experience.
An ACS Athens Student launches bottle rockets at the engineering summer camp.
“We were proud to share with students from ACS-Athens how Widener students learn about leadership here at the Oskin Leadership Institute. It was a rewarding experience for everyone – and I’m confident that the skills they learned here they’ll begin to use when they get back to their school,” Oskin Leadership Institute Director Arthur Schwartz said. Nine of the visitors spent a week doing institute programming, and a tenth student took part in an engineering camp. They were accompanied to Widener by Peggy Pelonis, dean of the ACS Athens Office of Student Affairs, and Steven
“Thank you for making me realize that leadership isn’t something that is just an idea, but it is something that can become a reality with greatly focusing on leading self, leading others and leading change,” she told Schwartz.
ACS Athens Student prepares his rocket for launch at engineering camp.
diplomas. Under the agreement between Widener and ACS Athens, which also formalized this summer opportunity, ACS Athens students who graduate with international baccalaureate diplomas and choose Widener will enter the university with sophomore status.
Schwartz said the students were able to meet with Widener President Dr. Julie Wollman and also enjoyed time out at historic sites in Philadelphia, at the cinema, and an engineering camp activity on how things fly. They traveled to Washington, D.C. for sightseeing before returning home to Greece. ACS Athens is attended by Greek students, international students and students who are American citizens – including many who have spent their whole lives in Greece. The school offers American high school diplomas and international baccalaureate
Ten students and two administrators from ACS Athens high school in Greece visited Widener for a week of summer programming through an engineering camp and the Oskin Leadership Institute.