Impact
Making an impact for years to come.
In 2014, the College LAUNCH for Leadership Program was founded on the
pillars of college preparation, social consciousness, and leadership
development. Created for high school students who have been identified as
having extraordinary academic and leadership potential, College LAUNCH’s
purpose is to promote access to higher education by increasing social
consciousness and academic opportunities.
Youth Participatory Action Research
Recognizing the importance of engaging in meaningful social justice work and the value of research experience prior to college, College LAUNCH Scholars are tasked with working in groups to explore a social justice issue that they feel passionate about. Within their groups, Scholars gather data, examine existing research, and generate suggested solutions for addressing their particular issue. YPAR work is broken down systematically over the course of the nine-month LAUNCH program, culminating in group presentations during our graduation ceremonies in May.
The YPAR project allows Scholars to:
- Further develop their research skills.
- Consider the complex factors that contribute to social injustices.
- Equip themselves as leaders to make an impact on their communities.
- Equal Access to Healthcare
- Multinational Companies Impact on Development Countries
- The Relationship Between Mental Health and Social Media
- Barriers to College for Minority High School Students in Charlotte
- Efforts to Assist in Local Food Deserts
- Discrimination in the Justice System
- Injustice Within Immigration Detention Centers
- The Impact of Racism and How to Combat It
- Littering and Environmental Stewardship
- Generational Poverty in Winston-Salem
Thank You to Our Amazing Partners!
You can help our program impact more high school students. Email collegelaunch@wfu.edu to learn how your organization can become a sponsor.
An Extra Special Thank You
We would also be remiss if we did not acknowledge our amazing College LAUNCH Alumni, who mentor LAUNCH Scholars in a variety of ways including panel events, networking resources, and Saturday Summit support. College LAUNCH is a family and we are thankful for the way our Alumni consistently “pay it forward”.
