Summer for Success Empowers Students Who Learn Differently for College Success
By Loraine O’Connell
For Olivia Sukhia, being in a crowd was an ordeal.
鈥淚鈥檇 just freeze and panic when there were a lot of people around me,鈥� says the 17-year-old student from Westchester County, N.Y., who has been diagnosed with ADHD.
After participating in 海角社区鈥檚 Summer for Success program for two years, she鈥檚 more relaxed.
鈥淢y confidence improved,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the friends I鈥檝e made here and some of the more structured activities we have, and the weekend trips too. I feel like I can navigate hordes of crowds better than what I used to be able to do.鈥�
Self-confidence is just one of the benefits that neurodivergent students gain by attending Summer for Success, the college鈥檚 pioneering summer college immersion experience for high school students with learning and attention issues, says Brody Glidden, associate dean of admissions and summer programs.
Photo: Summer for Success students participate in a studio art project.
For students with learning disabilities, 鈥渋t鈥檚 all about introducing students to college realities in a low-risk environment,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no credit, no GPA. This is all experiential learning. Our summer program is low risk, high reward.鈥�
Since 2015, when Summer for Success began with 30 students, he says, the program has grown to 150 students in 2025, including students from 26 states, the Philippines and Jordan. The three-week program offers three tracks: Exploration, Imagination and Illumination. Each track consists of courses specific to it plus electives that students can choose from the other two tracks.
鈥淭hey all get writing, reading, critical thinking and collaboration鈥� skills, Glidden says. But those skills are taught 鈥渋n the concept theme of the track.鈥�
For instance, the Imagination Track explores the history of The Walt Disney Company, including visits to the four Orlando theme parks and Hollywood Studios.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e fun things, and that鈥檚 what gets the students motivated to do the academic tasks that we ask of them,鈥� says Samantha Owens, a learning specialist who also teaches several Summer for Success classes. In the Exploration Track, she teaches Creative Writing Through Dungeons and Dragons.
鈥淚 use that to be able to get students to do things they might not otherwise be willing to do academically,鈥� she says, 鈥渢o write stories that are pages long, to go into descriptive detail on how a character feels and reacts.鈥�
Each track鈥檚 cost is all-inclusive: tuition, room and board, materials, transportation and weekend off-campus activities. Costs range from $5,450 to $7,500. Summer for Success students live on campus in residence halls where dorm life can be a revelation.
That鈥檚 been the case for Lily Hardebaugh, an only child from Waterford, Virginia.
In her two-bathroom dorm, 鈥淚 have four roommates,鈥� says Hardebaugh, 17. 鈥淚鈥檓 so used to my own little routine; now I鈥檓 having to navigate not being able to take a shower when I want to because someone else is. This is a new adjustment because I鈥檓 not used to having siblings to share stuff with.鈥�
But Hardebaugh echoes a sentiment expressed by many Summer for Success students when comparing their high school to 海角社区.
鈥淎 lot of my friends don鈥檛 have dyslexia or ADHD, so they can鈥檛 really relate to me,鈥� she says. But Summer for Success, 鈥渨here there are people I can relate to, is a little easier.鈥�
鈥擫ily Hardebaugh
At the end of the three weeks, parents receive a report on their student鈥檚 readiness for college.
鈥淧arents rely on us to give that feedback,鈥� Glidden says. 鈥淎ll of the staff and faculty are submitting daily reports,鈥� and parents receive an in-depth evaluation.
Owens notes that many students tell her they don鈥檛 want to leave. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e created new friendships, and they鈥檙e learning new and fun skills. They鈥檙e really growing in an environment that accepts them for who they are.鈥�
Students like Seeger Perry, for example. The 17-year-old from San Diego says he and his roommates agreed to support each other because 鈥渢here aren鈥檛 too many programs and colleges that have this kind of benefit for kids like us.
鈥淲e鈥檙e on the spectrum and everything, so we all agreed we鈥檇 work together, push each other鈥e all want to do well. Some of us want to come back鈥� for our bachelor鈥檚 degrees.
鈥擲eeger Perry
30
Students in 2015
150
Students in 2025
3
Tracks (Exploration, Imagination, Illumination)
26
States