Community of Scholars
About the Community of Scholars
The Community of Scholars comprises Furman students who are recipients of Duke, Townes, Hollingsworth, Jolley, Lay, Mickel, and Vaughn Scholarships. These students have been chosen for these scholarships because of their outstanding academic achievement, as well as for having demonstrated a strong commitment to their communities. As members of the Community of Scholars, these motivated and intellectually curious students develop bonds—not only with each other but also with Furman faculty—and are highly engaged with the world around them. Programming created specifically for the Community of Scholars allows these students the opportunity to engage in intellectual and community-building activities together throughout their time at Furman (and even before they arrive).
The Community of Scholars Experience
Intellectual Growth Opportunities
One of the goals of the Community of Scholars is to provide students with continual ways to engage with one another about relevant issues. Through exclusive opportunities to attend dinners with guest speakers, scholars have the chance to hear from a diverse set of people who are change-makers in their fields, and perhaps spark a conversation with their fellow scholars about real-world issues. Other intellectual growth opportunities within the Community of Scholars include events to engage with the other Furman institutes, as well as with professors from various departments. And it all begins at the Advantage Scholars summer program, where scholars hear from speakers and spend time working together to think critically about issues relevant to our own community.
Sense of Belonging
The Community of Scholars is intended to be just that—a community. Students are able to form connections through a variety of activities, such as an ice cream social, group dinners, karaoke night, community service projects, and more. Regular emails that keep students updated on what is going on in the Community of Scholars and with their peers promotes cohesiveness through their time at Furman and beyond. Like-minded individuals are able to connect through the Community of Scholars regardless of academic field or other interests. The Advantage Scholars summer program provides a jump-start to meeting people before other students arrive on campus for the fall semester, and intentional programming for scholars during their first year solidifies those connections.
Resources and Mentorship
As members of the Community of Scholars, students have access to additional mentorship resources. In particular, the Community of Scholars faculty liaison, Dr. A. Scott Henderson, William R. Kenan Jr. professor of education and director of national and international scholarships, (scott.henderson@furman.edu) provides counsel to scholars about their academic plans, career options, and national/international scholarship opportunities. Throughout their time in the Community of Scholars, students will have the chance to meet and interact with a variety of enthusiastic faculty and staff members, other scholars in the classes above them, alumni scholars, and members of the Greenville community whose work aligns with their passions.
Advantage Scholars Summer Program
What is Advantage Scholars?
Advantage Scholars is a three-day residential program that takes place over summer and is open to all incoming scholars. Advantage Scholars offers a unique opportunity for scholars to start building their Furman family before their first day of class. This program brings incoming freshmen together to discuss real-world issues, explore campus and the community, and connect socially. An early introduction to The Furman Advantage, Advantage Scholars gives students foundational tools for leadership for use during their Furman career and beyond.
The program includes enlightening lectures, interactive activities, thoughtful discussions, and fun excursions. Student counselors help create a rich and valuable experience for all who participate. The objectives of this engaged student learning opportunity are to:
- Develop bonds and build community among scholars even before they arrive on campus in August
- Expose scholars to a range of Furman faculty
- Highlight opportunities for scholars to engage with faculty, departments, and the surrounding community while at Furman
- Help scholars understand innate biases and broaden their lens going forward
- Foster scholars’ ability to preserve an open mind even toward those with whom they disagree
- Further their critical thinking skills as they examine real-world issues
- Have fun!
Advantage Scholars is at no cost to you, other than travel expenses to and from Greenville. Your scholarship covers the cost of this program.
Yes. Advantage Scholars is NOT a substitution for either summer or fall orientation. We have strategically planned Advantage Scholars to align with summer orientation sessions so that you may combine it all in one trip, and attend an orientation session right before Advantage Scholars begins. However, unlike orientation, there are no planned activities for parents—this is a students-only experience.
Recipients of Duke, Townes, Hollingsworth, Vaughn, Mickel, or Lay scholarships are invited to the Advantage Scholars program. You will receive information via email about how to register after you have received word of your scholarship and committed to Furman.
Student Takeaways From the Advantage Scholars Program 2023
-
“The program opened up so many conversations for my peers and me that we never would have had otherwise. It was a great experience to connect with so many people so quickly.” -
“This showed me that we’re all connected. I loved meeting such a diverse group of people and seeing how many connections we all share together that bring us closer and help us understand each other.”
-
“My biggest takeaway is how much we can affect the world around us, and how many young people actually care to address our world's problems. It has encouraged me to actively seek out others who are desiring change, and to personally help make positive shifts in the world.”
-
“Furman is definitely my place. These people are my people, and I definitely belong here.”
Past Advantage Scholars Sessions | See All
-
Advantage Scholars Summer Program
2023 Advantage Scholars Summer Program
This past June, the Riley Institute hosted two sessions of Advantage Scholars, each a cohort... -
Advantage Scholars Summer Program
2022 Advantage Scholars Summer Program
More than sixty incoming freshman scholars came to Furman during two three-day sessions in July... -
Advantage Scholars Summer Program
2021 Advantage Scholars Summer Program
More than sixty incoming freshman scholars came to Furman June 21-24 to listen, learn, contemplate,...
