Media gallery

More than sixty incoming freshman scholars came to Furman during two three-day sessions in July to listen, learn, contemplate, interact, share ideas, and experience community with their fellow incoming scholars. Among the highlights of their time on campus were:

  • a welcome dinner with S.C Representative Neal Collins and several community leaders
  • excellent faculty presentations on understanding the causes and impact of poverty, recognizing our innate biases, and discerning fake and real news.
  • A tour and opportunity to engage with children at A Child’s Haven
  • open and honest discussion after a tour of Furman’s campus that highlighted the university’s roots in antebellum slave culture and its modern reckoning with that history
  • small group discussions digging deeper on critical issues such as healthcare, the environment, public education, and criminal justice
  • fun-filled social activities including a hands-on cooking class, an outdoor cookout and swimming party at White Oaks, the home of President Davis, and creative games and activities led by Furman students who were their counselors

Here’s what a few students had to say about their experience at the Advantage Scholars summer program:

“Participating in this program has given me exposure to many different viewpoints and opinions on real world issues and diversity, which has allowed me to feel comfortable and encouraged to share my own thoughts while also learning from those around me.”

“I feel like I now have a lot more knowledge about real life issues and potential solutions to those issues. I also learned a lot about myself and ways that I can help my community.”

“Advantage scholars truly just gave me a place to be exposed to new ideas, both ones I agree and disagree on. I think it was truly admirable how we were able to have quality, engaging, and yet respectful conversations with one another. It got me to think about how if you want change to happen, you can’t just sit back and hope for it to happen, you have to be proactive about acquiring the change.”

“One takeaway from this week is that I am more excited than I anticipated to build community with my fellow students once I’m on campus in the fall.”

“I have learned in so many ways how to be more open minded and thoughtful in every aspect of learning. I am excited to implement these lessons over the next four years.”