Essence Grant, now a junior at Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa, hasn’t forgotten her roots here at Academy Prep.  She’s one of many graduates back on campus who made our June Summer Session extraordinary, by volunteering and acting as a role model for our middle-school girls. “I remember how shy Essence was when she first arrived at Academy Prep and how much she blossomed in middle school. Seeing her work with our dance class shows how much she continues to grow,” says Lincoln Tamayo, VP of Operations. “I am just amazed at how all these kids keep growing—so many carry heavy burdens in their lives.  They are a real testament to the human will to succeed.”

Summer Session makes June perhaps the most unique month in the Academy Prep academic calendar. “We don’t want a summer brain drain,” says Tamayo, so math, history, English and even Shakespeare (Julius Caesar for 6th and 7th graders this summer) continue through June, alongside art, chess, and that dance class whose essence wouldn’t have been the same without Essence. Classes that combine physical activity and mental discipline are a hallmark of Academy Prep, allowing students to experience how academic rigor and positive life skills can improve their day-to-day lives.

The June session is also well-known as the last step in the admission process. Academy Prep Centers in St. Petersburg and Tampa received 428 applications for 78 available seats in the 5th and 6th grades. The new students are on campus giving AP St. Petersburg and Tampa “test drives.” Sixty have been offered admission to the 5th grade and eighteen for the open seats in the 6th grade. Essence Grant will, of course, return to her junior class at Academy of the Holy Names.  We will continue to provide her and all of our grads with the support they need to excel in high school and beyond.