Bridges Preparatory School (BPS) and the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) have partnered to offer the Accelerate program to a group of rising sophomores.
The Accelerate program is an intensive, three-year program for high school students interested in careers in engineering, or a related field. The classes are offered virtually and are supplemented by in-person summer learning experiences, labs, and research opportunities.
BPS is pleased to announce their 2023-24 Accelerate cohort: Leilani Birch, Summer Blount, Jagger Clinton, Grace Guise, Alexus Jones, Michael Koulianos, John McCorkindale, Sophia Mercier, and Jessie Stowe.
“We are excited for our first cohort of students to experience accelerated learning through the SC Governor’s School without leaving our campus,” said Robin Fogg, BPS College and Career Counselor. “These nine students will earn college credits through direct instruction by top professors, cohort with other students from across the state, and be challenged to explore subject matter in depth. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
This summer, the BPS cohort will attend a one-week base camp at the GSSM campus in Hartsville, South Carolina. This week-long experience will give students the opportunity to get acquainted with their peers from other schools, their professors, and the program.
The cohort will begin their program in the fall with three courses: Honors Algebra III, Honors Pre-Engineering, and Honors Chemistry. Throughout the three-year program, students will have the opportunity to explore specialized courses, including biomedical, aerospace, and environmental engineering.
“The Accelerate program will give me a jumpstart to pursue my dreams of a career in engineering,” said Sophia Mercier. “I’m excited to find my limits and push myself further to see what I can accomplish.”
Students in the Accelerate program will complete their first year of an undergraduate engineering program by the time they graduate from high school.
BPS is the only school in Beaufort County and the surrounding area to offer the Accelerate program to their students.
“We are very excited to expand the rigor of our academic programming with a new partnership with the Governor’s School,” said Gary McCulloch, BPS CEO. “We are very proud of our first cohort of students that will take their academic learning to new heights in an engineering program that will inspire and prepare them for a bright future with college opportunities and career pathways.”