Volunteers Needed for Duke-Durham School Days on October 20

Staff and faculty are invited to help middle school students experience college with fun tour

Students explore Duke.
Students explore Duke's campus during a previous Duke-Durham School Days event. Photo courtesy of the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs.

For Cara Kozma, volunteering to escort Durham school children around Duke’s campus for Duke-Durham School Days isn’t just about helping motivate them to pursue a college degree in a few years, it’s also about how what they can do further down the road.

“I think this is a great way to help foster curiosity and creativity and a love of education in young people here in Durham,” Kozma said. “The young people here will grow to become the leaders and the healthcare professionals that will one day help all of us and our communities.”

Now in its 23rd year, Duke-Durham School Days returns on Friday, October 20. Organized by the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs, the event provides 300 eighth-graders from Durham Public Schools, whose families have no prior college experience, a chance to experience college life.

The half-day tour of the Duke University campus is designed to motivate students to pursue a path to college. It features visits to classrooms, labs, residence halls and other hubs of campus life. The students will get to hear from faculty members, current Duke students, and see innovative learning environments such as the Duke Motorsports Club workshop and Duke University School of Medicine surgical simulation lab.

“The volunteers get to accompany students as they explore the campus with Duke student guides, and in the process, get to go to places they may have never been before,” said David Stein, Director of Duke-Durham School Days. “They can get into residence halls and research labs, so they can learn a lot about Duke as well. We work here every day, but to see these kids as they experience campus can be really special.”

Duke staff and faculty members are encouraged to register to serve as chaperones. Roughly 80 volunteers are needed to escort small groups of students from 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. on Friday, October 20. All volunteers will receive breakfast, lunch and a T-shirt.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, October 10. There will be an optional training session from 11:15 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, October 17.

“We often talk about trying to create and inspire the next generation of leaders; well, our next generation of leaders are here. They’re in Durham Public Schools,” Kozma said. “And we have a great chance to bring them to campus and expose them to some of the thinking and curiosity that happens in this space.”

You can register to volunteer at community.duke.edu/program/school-days

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs through our story idea form or write working@duke.edu.

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