We believe that preparing middle grades youth for educational success and leadership can help them make better decisions about the relevancy of school for themselves. Also at this critical age, good foundational study habits can bolster high school efforts. Because we serve a diverse youth population, we know that early exposure to a college environment and mentoring by college students raises youth awareness of what is possible with a good education.

The Building Blocks of Challenge & Champions are:

Academic

• Enhancing understanding of the world.
• Developing inquiry skills.
• Learning strategies for studying, managing time, and organizing.
• Employing reflective processes such as setting goals, analyzing progress, and revising goals.
• Becoming aware of and appreciating life-long learning.

Social

• Forming new relationships.
• Solving social problems.
• Learning to communicate effectively with peers, parents, and teachers.
• Understanding and respecting the uniqueness of each person.
• Appreciating the diversity of others.

Physical

• Forming fitness goals.
• Strengthening one’s body.
• Enhancing endurance.
• Learning new skills in group and individual sports.
• Developing team awareness.
• Promoting healthy habits.
• Identifying and changing unhealthy habits.

Leadership

• Safely challenging one’s self.
• Listening to and following instructions.
• Cooperating with the group.
• Becoming inquisitive.
• Taking responsibility.
• Taking initiative.