Austin, TX – Everybody has a story to tell, but not everyone has a stick to tell it with. Creating story sticks is only one activity children will be participating in during Austin Community College and Advanced Micro Devices’ Summer Youth Academy.

“When you hold the story stick, you have the power to tell the story,” said Sheila Darr, an adjunct speech communications instructor at ACC who will be teaching a storytelling workshop. “Storytelling teaches students to respect a person’s right to speak. It boosts students’ self-esteem, improves their oral communication skills and enhances their team-building skills by making them work together to write a story.”

The Summer Youth Academy begins June 3 and ends on June 14 and will be held at ACC’s Riverside Campus. Students will spend these two weeks learning specific skills, exploring career options, educational opportunities and developing long and short-term goals. Learning activities are planned that focus on the general arts and sciences as well as technical education programs.

“ACC’s Summer Youth Academy provides outstanding educational and personal development opportunities for middle school students in southeast Austin,” said Allyson

Peerman, AMD corporate community affairs manager. “Students will learn skills to enhance their academic and personal lives, while parents discover tangible ways to support their children’s educational aspirations.”

All program modules include activities to develop critical thinking, problem solving, conflict resolution, self-esteem, decision-making skills, and self-expression. Other skills classes from which the students may choose include: creative writing, computer/internet skills, math, chemistry, biology, building construction technology, automotive technology, welding, robotics, semiconductor manufacturing technology, and health sciences.

The program started when Montopolis residents needed a positive environment for their young people to “get off the streets” during the summer. ACC and AMD responded to this challenge by creating a summer youth academy that teaches disadvantaged youth about career opportunities

“We want to reach students when they’re in junior high school, so they don’t wait to high school to think about college,” said Melanie Barnes-Plant, ACC’s coordinator for the program. “We want to show students the possibilities that exist out there. We also really stress ACC’s Early College Start program.”

The Summer Youth Academy concludes with a Student Project Demonstration Fair and a community dinner with their parents. During the graduation event, parents are presented with information regarding educational and career options for their children, financial aid opportunities, college early start enrollment opportunities and the importance of making sure that students select appropriate courses in middle school and high school that prepare them for a college education.

The classes are conducted from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Monday through Friday on the Riverside campus. The first camp is full. However, students may join a waiting list for the possibility of a second camp beginning June 17. Students in the Montopolis and Del Valle areas receive priority in registration. To get on the waiting list, call 223-6056.