Robinson Leaders Program

Preparing for college

The Robinson Scholars Program has two components. The Robinson Leaders Program recruits students who are eligible to compete for the Robinson Scholarship. Robinson Leaders are recruited in the ninth grade year. Robinson Scholars will be selected at the end of a student’s junior year of high school. To be eligible for the full scholarship to the University of Kentucky, you must be in the Robinson Leaders program.

ROBINSON LEADERS
Our goal for Robinson Leaders is to prepare a large group of first generation students (up to 110 per year in the 29-county service region) to obtain college degrees. Leaders will have opportunities to prepare for college by participation in enrichment activities we provide, and they will also be asked to take personal responsibility to pursue academic excellence and develop themselves through personal enrichment via extra-curricular activities and community service. When we select Robinson Leaders, we examine a variety of things, including grades and standardized test scores, involvement in either extra-curricular and/or non-school related enrichment activities, and participation in community service.

Robinson Leaders are encouraged to take the most challenging courses their high school offers. We strongly encourage that your four year high school academic plan be aligned with the pre-college curriculum established by the University of Kentucky and other colleges and universities.  In addition to preparing you for college-level academic work, the pre-college curriculum will also prepare you to take the American College Test (ACT), which is required for entrance to college.

We advise high school students participate in extracurricular activities. This could involve participation on sports, speech, academic teams, drama, and school clubs. For those selected as Robinson Leaders, it is important that you represent your school in activities that demonstrate your initiative and leadership ability.

You should also become involved in community service. There are many avenues to become involved in community service. There is no restriction on how you do your service work. Activities can be done through an organization, as part of an informal group, or individually. Remember that you are a product of your community, and our core principles involve honoring our east Kentucky roots and doing our best to serve the region.

For those students who have been accepted in the Robinson Leaders Program, you can find the official policy handbook here.

An emphasis on UK COre competencies

All students who attend UK or any university will be required to take general coursework that address a breadth of core academic competencies. These course prepare you for both citizenship in the modern world and to excel in advanced coursework related the major and career you choose. The UK Core Curriculum involves 30 hours of study in areas such as science, math, communication skills, and citizenship. While these core competencies may vary slightly from university to university, they all seek to accomplish a similar goal, to prepare you broadly for life as a productive citizen.

Throughout your time as a Robinson Leader we will emphasize your preparation in these core competencies. Our programming also strongly emphasizes preparation in math and science. One reason is to prepare you for difficult courses that you must take, and a second reason is to develop a new corps of scientists and engineers that will be needed across our nation in the coming years. Even if you do not intend to pursue a career in these fields, you will be required to complete these courses in college, and our belief it that exposure to science and technology will benefit you in a variety of ways beyond your academic achievement.

learning about college

An important objective of the Robinson Leaders Program is to give students the opportunity to experience life on a college campus. For that reason, we include campus visits and residence camps as part of our programming. It is important for Robinson Leaders to gain information that will help them make the best choices for college. Your individual choice might be the University of Kentucky, one of our state’s regional universities, a community and technical colleges, a private university, a university in another state. You can find out more about other institutions of higher learning in Kentucky at this web site.

enrichment activities available to robinson leaders

Robinson Leaders have the opportunity to participate in our enrichment activities at no cost. If you are chosen to be a Robinson Leader, you can make a competitive application to one of our summer enrichment camps. Our camps currently include Astronomy & Space Sciences, Robotics, Natural Resources, and Humanities. Each involves an intensive exposure to content that will prepare you for college. Robinson Leaders may also seek to participate in enrichment activities outside of the program. There are a variety of excellent opportunities such as Rogers Scholars, Upward Bound, and specialty camps. We advise you to study your options carefully and tailor your enrichment activities to your areas of interest.

Astronomy and space science camp

Our Astronomy and Space Science camp is held at Morehead State University's Space Science Center. Activities are led taught by MSU professors in the Space Science program. Students selected for this opportunity get the opportunity to operate optical and radio telescopes, build and program circuit boards, collect data using high altitude balloons, experience programs in the Center’s state of the art Star Theater, and understand the mathematical concepts associated with this exciting field of study. Students gain vital college preparation in advanced math and science, such as calculus and physics. Because this program is delivered on a university campus, participants will have the opportunity to stay in a residential housing, interact with college professors and students, and enjoy use of facilities such as the University’s new wellness center.

robotics

The field of robotics is not just for students who want to become engineers. This exciting field offers students the opportunity to put their creative talents to the test. The activity teaches students a diverse range of skills, such as math, problem solving, working in groups, programming, and design. This camp will be held on the University of Kentucky campus in conjunction with the UK College of Engineering. You will learn to design, build, wire, and program robots to perform a variety of tasks. Additionally, you will learn skills such as math, technical writing and public speaking. This summer program will also give you an opportunity to learn about the state’s flagship university by staying on campus in a residence hall and experiencing the amazing variety of resources available at UK and in the City of Lexington. Students completing this program will be broadly prepared for college success, and it will be particularly appealing for those interested in majors such as physics, computer science, engineering, and various technical fields.

Arts and Humanities camp

Humanities and arts include the fields such English, history, journalism, music and sociology, to name a few. Of particular interest to us is developing an understanding of Appalachian culture and the unique contribution that eastern Kentucky makes to the state, nation, and world. Students who participate in this camp will be challenged to think critically about current social issues, gain a solid historical and cultural knowledge of your region, and develop projects that reflect your thoughts on these issues. This summer program will also give you an opportunity to learn about the state’s flagship university by staying on campus in a residence hall and experiencing the amazing variety of resources available at UK and in the City of Lexington. Students completing this program will be broadly prepared for college success in a variety of fields in Arts and Sciences.

OTHER opportunities available to Robinson leaders
Agricultural Entrepreneurship: You who are interested in careers in agriculture and business will have an opportunity to work with professionals at the Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability in Jackson and the UK Extension Service. The program seeks to develop and promote youth who have an entrepreneurial spirit and are interested in learning about crop management, development of businesses, and locally grown food. This program is highly specialized and has a limited enrollment. If this program interests you, please indicate that on your online application to the Robinson Leaders Program.

ACT Preparation: The ACT is a critical component of your college preparation, and your scores on this test have a direct impact on receipt of scholarships and other financial aid. Your high school guidance counselor will have information and programs related to ACT preparation. Additionally, the Robinson Scholars Program also offers Saturday programs that will help you prepare to take the ACT.

Forestry, Health Education: Do you enjoy the outdoors and being in the forest? Are you interested in a career in the medical field? Robinson Leaders have the opportunity to participate in programs offered through the University of Kentucky that offer specialized enrichment opportunities. These summer camps that are not part of Robinson Leaders programming welcome a limited number of Robinson Leaders who have a strong interest in the subject matter.

Weekend Programs: Robinson Leaders will also have opportunities to participate in weekend programs related to our summer enrichment activities. These may include campus visits, activities at UK or the MSU Space Science Center, programs led by Robinson Scholars attending the University of Kentucky, and a variety of programs that will better prepare you to obtain a college degree.

Apply to be a robinson leader

The Robinson Leaders Program is not just about selecting 29 students annually to receive the Robinson Scholarship. It is about preparing you to succeed in college regardless of where you choose to get a degree. Our camps are designed to prepare you to excel in life and fulfill a vital leadership role in the region, state, and nation. Our camps are challenging, but enjoyable. Robinson Leaders are among the best and brightest students in east Kentucky. We are currently taking applications and will do so through Feb. 17th, 2012. You can read more about application requirements and access the online application here.

Are you a robinson leader that needs to log in your enrichment or community service activities?

You can now log your enrichment and community service activites online here on the Robinson Scholars website. All you have to do is click here.