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The Cathedral Scholars Program is a three-year program that selects
fifteen promising honor-roll students from the District of Columbia
public high schools. On a rotating basis, five high schools per year
select candidates from the ninth grade to participate in a rigorous
application and interview process.
Once selected, these fifteen Cathedral Scholars participate for three
years, beginning with the summer after their ninth grade year. Each
group of students forms meaningful bonds with one another that last long
after they graduate from the program. These relationships with their
classmates, teachers, program staff, and Internship supervisors form the
basis of the program. |
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The Cathedral Scholars Program consists of three major components: |
Academic Classes
Beginning in late June, all students attend morning classes at St.
Albans School on the Washington National Cathedral Close. For six weeks,
the students receive instruction in several key core subjects such as
English and Math, as well as SAT preparation and participatory media.
Teachers from St. Albans and the National Cathedral School contribute
their expertise to work with the Cathedral Scholars. The objective of
these classes is to augment the instruction received in their home
schools in order to be better prepared for their high school classes and
future college experience.
The SAT preparation course taught by Capital Educators has been an
extremely effective part of the program. Students have consistently
shown improvements in their test scores during the summer session and
have benefited from the small class size, where they receive greater
attention. |
Internships
Internships during the summer afternoons offer an excellent
opportunity for the Scholars to gain experience in a work environment.
Each of the three summers of internships offers a unique opportunity
where students learn to navigate different work settings.
In their first summer and in many cases, the first job for these
students, the Scholars work on the Close of Washington National
Cathedral. In collaboration with various departments on the Close, the
scholars work in a variety places such as the Cathedral College, Public
Affairs and in Visitor Programs and Volunteer Services.
As part of the Mayor’s Passport to Work Program, Scholars are given
placements in public offices in their second summer. Many have worked in
the offices of City Council members, the Mayor and of the DCPS
Superintendent.
For the final summer, Scholars are given jobs in the private sector
or in community-based organizations. An effort is made to find matches
that coincide with the students’ career interests. Several companies
have worked with the Scholars Program every summer to provide this
opportunity for the students. Some of the placements have included law
offices, hospitals and in non-profit organizations. |
Enrichment Activities
On afternoons that the students do not work, they participate in a
wide array of workshops aimed at providing new experiences. In the
past, students have visited various ethnic restaurants, participated in
a cooking workshop, collaborated with a local hip hop poet to write and
record a song, and took part in a weekly service learning experience.
Students also participate in a weekend camping trip during their second
summer.
Even though the bulk of the program takes place within six weeks
during the summer, additional enrichment activities are provided during
the academic school year. These experiences are designed to expose
students to new ideas and culturally diverse events.
For example, in past years students have volunteered their time at
the Washington National Cathedral’s Annual Open House. The students have
also attended the Martin Luther King, Jr. Choral Arts Society tribute
and various city museums.
It is very important to note that the Cathedral Scholars Program is
an integral part of the Washington National Cathedral community.
Students are regularly invited to take part and attend various events at
the Cathedral. In 2005, students were specially invited to attend the
Hurricane Katrina prayer service. |
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