THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503300151
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
Megan Dillon was all set to become an archaeologist, but now she has changed her mind. After touring Old Dominion University recently, she plans to study psychology.
``I understood most of what the professor was talking about, like passive-aggressive behavior,'' said Megan. ``I like psychology better now.''
Megan's a bright young lady, but she won't be attending college for a few more years. She's only 11.
She toured the ODU campus as part of Lynnhaven Middle School's Young Scholars Day. The visit was organized by sixth-grade teachers Stacey Feldman and Kristin Bonanno to offer their students a slice of college life. The students spent the day listening to an admissions office presentation, attending the class that swayed Dillon and absorbing campus life on a tour conducted by ODU students.
Feldman's class attended a morning lecture in adolescent psychology and Bonnano's attended an abnormal psychology lecture after lunch.
Both teachers are products of the Virginia Beach Public School System.
``We wished we'd had prior knowledge of what college was about and what it could do for us,'' said Feldman.
``That was why we organized the trip,'' said Bonanno. ``This is our desire for our students.''
Most of the students said they were impressed by what they saw with one big exception - smoking.
While Professor Robert J. Wunderlin's lecture in psychology class impressed Megan, the smoking around the campus didn't.
``We're not used to seeing anyone smoke,'' said Kate Barcus, 11. ``It was disgusting. You can't smoke anywhere around our school.''
Many others in the class nodded vigorous approval of a no-smoking policy, but Amanda Cox still thought college was ``really cool.
``I liked the freedom and the social life,'' she said.
John Midgett found the freedom appealing, too.
``But I know the school work's a lot harder,'' he said.
Blake Hathaway noticed another difference.
``The students didn't ask too many questions,'' she said. ``They just listened and took notes. Only one girl asked a question.''
Wunderlin didn't explain things as much as the sixth-graders are used to, many said.
The students had lunch in and toured the Webb Student Center. They visited the library, the gymnasium, Foreman Field and a dormitory.
After lunch, Bonanno's class attended Wunderlin's class.
Alison Mercker, 12, praised the ODU students who conducted the tour.
``The dorm rooms are really small,'' said Chris Bertha, 11.
Kimberly Smith said the one-day tour heightened her academic ambitions.
``Going to college for a day got us thinking about going to college after high school,'' the 13 year-old said. ``I know I plan to save money and keep my grades up now.''
Sean Tant said that he learned four valuable letters, which form one important acronym.
``The admissions office counselor told us to remember `SALT.' That stands for subject, academics, leadership and tests,'' he said. ``I am going to try to remember so it will help later.''
Mission accomplished, agreed Feldman and Bonanno. That's what they hoped the tour would do.
``We wanted to give them an idea of college life and to show them what they can start doing now to prepare for it,'' said Feldman.
All the sixth-graders received mini-college diplomas the day after their visit.
Megan smiled when Feldman handed her a rolled-up diploma.
``Maybe when we're old enough to go to college, smoking will be against the rules,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Sixth-graders from Lynnhaven Middle School students took a tour of
Old Dominion University, organized by teachers Stacey Feldman and
Kristin Bonanno to offer their students an advanced slice of college
life.
John Midgett, 12, found the freedom of campus life appealing. ``But
I know the school work's a lot harder,'' he said.
Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Blake Hathaway said she noticed the college students in Professor
Robert Wunderlin's psychology class didn't ask many questions.
``They just listened and took notes,'' she said.
by CNB