Juntos Summer Academy Builds Experience, Connections for North Carolina Youth

Throughout the week of June 17-21, NC State’s Juntos program once again welcomed high school students from across North Carolina, allowing them to experience NC State’s campus, make connections and learn from valuable, hands-on experiences throughout the week. 

This year’s academy saw 96 students from nine different North Carolina counties (Catawba, Bladen, Durham, Orange, Wake, Lee, Greene, Sampson and Pender). 

“Summer Academy was a success,” said NC State Juntos assistant director Lucía Planchon. “Juntos youth noted that they loved getting the opportunity to meet with new people and practice their networking, and we are so proud of the work that was done in their project time, which culminated in their Saturday Presentations.”

With over 50 professionals and partners participating in the academy in some capacity, the students had plenty of guidance as they split into seven different groups to work on week-long projects. 

The Academy also featured six career classes and five skills workshops. 

“NC State University offers our youth a safe and exciting environment to learn what it means to be a college student,” Planchon said. “This pivotal event allows students to begin dreaming about higher education and seeing themselves in a space that they may not have ever been in prior to Academy, so it’s an incredible opportunity!”

Throughout the week, the youth received mentorship from 21 students from universities across North and South Carolina who served as team captains. 

The week-long Academy also featured a college fair with 25 different colleges and universities represented. 

On Thursday, June 19, the Academy’s Initiative Day allowed the students to split into five different groups for field trips at different locations that focused on specific Juntos initiatives. 

“There’s something truly electric about watching young minds light up with possibility and that’s exactly what happens when Juntos students set foot on NC State’s campus,” said NC State Juntos project manager Leslie Mouchet. “Bringing these bright, motivated students to NC State isn’t just special, it’s transformational. From engaging workshops to conversations with professionals in STEM, business, education and beyond, students were inspired not only by the opportunities in front of them but by the belief that those opportunities were truly within reach. One of the most powerful moments is seeing their confidence grow as they realize higher education is for them. This isn’t just a field trip, it’s a pathway for the future. And at Juntos, we are proud to be part of that journey.”

Each year’s Juntos Summer Academy features a theme. The theme for this year’s academy, the 15th that NC State Juntos has hosted, was “Juntos Cumplimos,” which means “together we achieve.” 

Students were split into Icon Teams, which featured famous achievers that the students can look up to. Icons included literary and scientific masterminds as well as sports and musical icons. These influential people inspired the youth to reach for the stars during the week.

“The themes every year are always exciting but this year the theme had a special significance,” said Yessenia Campos Franco, Juntos’ Durham Coordinator. “So many icons, in every aspect and from different walks of life, accomplished and broke barriers to become legends. This was yet another example for the students to see that their spark can shine in any capacity.”

The week culminated with students presenting their week-long projects to judges, team captains, coordinators and other guests. 

This year’s winner was Heritage Hunt, a project from Gamify Your Story, which saw the students create a game based on a real life experience. 

“Exposure is at the heart of what we hope students gain from the Summer Academy,” Mouchet said. “We want them to explore a wide range of careers, build valuable skills and engage with professionals, allowing them to envision themselves in roles and spaces they may never have considered. Our goal is to open up a world of possibilities and connect them to the resources that can help shape and guide their future paths.”