08-05-2022
The Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program (BOP) gave 44 high school students the chance to spend a week on Purdue’s campus improving their teamwork and leadership skills, learning about programs in the Daniels School of Business, and having fun with like-minded peers.
The BOP Future Scholars Camp presents a unique opportunity for some of the top rising high school seniors from across the country to develop knowledge of college life, admissions, and Purdue while being introduced to potential topics of future study.
“The BOP program is a place for students to get acclimated to Purdue and being in a new environment,” says Darren Henry, the director of BOP. “It really prepares students to navigate the real world.”
BOP’s associate director, Darien Thompson, agrees. “Just like here in this camp, you’re not always going to work with the same type of people,” she says. “In the BOP program, you’re surrounded by so many people from diverse backgrounds, and that’s something you’re going to be doing when you’re in corporate America.”
The summer 2022 Future Scholars Camp welcomed students from 10 states who came together to learn about the essentials of business and how the Daniels School can help them reach their goals. Throughout their week on campus, the Future Scholars worked on a case competition to develop their understanding of a real business environment, culminating with a presentation of their findings.
“Our number one goal was to bring students to campus to show them what it's like to be a business student at Purdue,” says Henry. “One of the things that separates our camp from other camps is that we allow students to have an extended amount of time with professors, alumni, current students, myself, and Ms. Thompson. I don’t think you see that interaction and personalization at other high school business camps.”
Now equipped with both technical and interpersonal skills to help them succeed, these ambitious students are more prepared to launch a stellar college career. “With this program I have a foot in the door when it comes to the academic process,” says Stephen Ogunmakinwa, a rising senior from Brownsburg, Indiana.
It’s true that the BOP Future Scholars Camp provides students an advantage. Going into their senior year of high school, Future Scholars are more likely to get into Purdue than their peers who have not gone through the program. Once admitted, these enterprising students are also more likely to be awarded a merit scholarship.
With just one week of learning and growth on the Purdue campus, BOP Future Scholars are setting themselves up for success. After taking their first career steps at Purdue this summer, they are more prepared for the next giant leap.
