Student Success
Special Group of New Students Set to Soar
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 1, 2024) – A special group of 100 new Wake Tech students are set to soar in their first year of college thanks to the Eagle Start Summer Bridge Program.
The transitional program is designed to help students build a strong academic foundation as they enter college. Offered at no cost, Eagle Start gives new students the opportunity to become integrated into the college community before the Fall semester begins.
For six weeks this summer, students took classes in foundational math and English, learned strategies for academic success, received laptops and accessed support resources and services like tutoring and career coaching. They also made lots of friends and connected with encouraging instructors – relationships that will continue to support them in their studies at Wake Tech.
Camdyn Mahaley said she's more confident and excited about her college journey because of her Eagle Start experience.
"This was a big step for me, and I was ready for it," she said. "The Eagle Start program truly motivated me to be a better student and work toward a career."
The students were recognized and received certificates of completion Thursday during a celebration ceremony at the college's Public Safety Education Campus that was filled with applause and tears from family members and supporters. Several students shared emotional testimonials about how the program and their instructors gave them the encouragement they needed to be successful in college.
Jerry Padilla said he sharpened his math skills and gained a new best friend thanks to the motivation of his classmate, Alec Robinson.
"College can be an overwhelming experience for some people, and we're doing this for the first time," Padilla said. "In this program, you meet people who teach you things, and you also teach others as well, and you build off that."
"Taking the first step is the most important step," Robinson said. "You have to start before you can finish, and we all took the first step."
The Eagle Start Summer Bridge program launched in 2021 from the college's Reach and Rally strategic plan. The goal is to increase equitable outcomes by helping students complete gateway courses needed to enter college-level English and math. To date, nearly 300 students have completed the program.
