The inaugural cohort of 250 students has successfully completed the initial segment of the Broward College Academy for Excellence (BCAE), an innovative initiative to help individuals get ready to do college-level work and empower them to take control of their lives. The conclusion of the summer-bridge program was celebrated with an event to which family and friends were invited, featuring presentations on social-justice topics and the awarding of certificates. The A. Hugh Adams Central Campus in Davie and the Willis Holcombe Center in downtown Fort Lauderdale hosted celebratory events on Aug. 2.
Groups of students collaborated on researching and discussing projects on a range of subjects, including domestic violence, health care, police brutality, illegal immigration, drug abuse and racial discrimination, and offering solutions to some of society’s most horrific challenges. The students spoke about where they envisioned themselves in the year 2037, 25 years hence, in relation to the social issues, as well as personally and professionally. BCAE Coordinator Prof. Mary F. Di Stefano Diaz said, “The future will be different as we see ourselves making a difference as agents of change.”
The presentations were capstone projects for the students who will enroll for the fall term. They will participate in learning communities, with a linked-course design created by four faculty members working together.
The BCAE program was developed by the California-based Academy for College Excellence, founded by Diego Navarro, a full-time faculty member at Cabrillo College in California. The Gates and Hewlett Foundations recently awarded ACE $3.6 million to expand the program throughout the country and Broward College is now part of this national effort.