Academics

Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? A boy from the Bronx, the son of Irish immigrants, stands before 80 high school students in Carrick Theater. His candid portrayal of his journey—his family’s limited resources, having little idea of what college was, not knowing how to study, and the difficulty of fitting in— takes some of the students by surprise. He is, after all, Seamus Carey, college president. This is their fifth and final visit of the year to Transy’s campus as part of Pioneer Pathway, Transylvania’s college empowerment program that helps first-generation and other traditionally underrepresented students connect with college. President Carey, who is now president of Iona College, wants them to see that their struggles may not be so very different from his own. They too belong here and can succeed in college. Opportunity Gap Pioneer Pathway, now in its third year, got its start when Transy answered the call from teachers in Woodford County who had identified the need for a program to help underrepresented boys gain access to college. Guided by Serenity Wright ’05, Transy’s former associate dean for diversity and international student experience, it has grown to include students from five schools (Bryan Station, Henry Clay and Dunbar in Fayette County, and high schools in Woodford and Scott counties), thanks to the generous partnership of the William R. Kenan Charitable Trust. The program fills an opportunity gap for students who have the academic capacity

Read “Pioneer Pathway”