More than 40 West Michigan high school students are blazing a trail to completing college-level courses while gaining higher education preparatory skills and cultural experiences through Ferris State University’s Promesa Summer Success Program.  

Center for Latin@ Studies Director Sonia Trevino said this was the 11th year of the free, eight-week program in which students from Holland, Grand Rapids, Grant and Hart gather for daily instruction in reading and math in a college setting.  

Nearly 30 of our Promesa students attended a Ferris campus visit in July, spending nights in Travis Hall and engaged in group activities such as campus tours, a scavenger hunt, movie night and a video game tournament. 

“We are very thankful that Ferris’ Esports program collaborated with our students for that competition,” Trevino said. “Those who came and stayed seemed to enjoy being in a collegiate setting.”  

Trevino added that the tradition of an end-of-summer group gathering was adjusted this year to accommodate the wishes of student-athletes involved in the program.  

“Traveling to Big Rapids would conflict with the early practice schedule for our participants who compete in fall sports,” Trevino said. “Each cohort has its own celebration, presenting certificates of completion to their students as the Promesa Summer Success program concludes on Friday, Aug. 11.”  

Students in Promesa Summer Success are rising high school juniors and seniors committed to attending weekday classes to potentially earn as many as seven college credits.