Rural Connections
- Mariette Sargios, from left, Abigail Melton, 15, Lily Chu, 13, and Jayna Viswalingam, 14, put on makeup in preparation for the summer camp’s Masquerade Ball. The Lafayette College residential site is one of two dozen operated by the program at various college campuses, intended to offer academically adept students camaraderie, enrichment, and a taste of college life. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Rural Connections scholar Catherine Schlenker, 13, center, works surrounded by fellow students including from left: Abigail Melton, 13; Grace Lee, 13; Nadir Dunns-Thornes, 13; and Jayna Viswalingam, 13, far right. Ms. Schlenker was among several rural students taking part in the camp through a scholarship program being offered for the first time this year during the summer program at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Students walk through campus to a Masquerade Ball event during the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer program at Lafayette College. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Ryan Welch, 12, right, and Sharon Choi, 14, spread out on the floor as they work on their projects in the Geometry Through Art class during Center for Talented Youth summer program at Lafayette College. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Teaching Assistant Haley Carpenter, left, helps Eric Simioni, 14, with soldering a solar-powered car in the Principles of Engineering Design class during Center for Talented Youth summer program. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Alyssa Huang, 15, from left, Kiara Figueroa, 13, and Jessica Chou, 15, play Twister during afternoon activities at the Center for Talented Youth summer program at Lafayette College. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Students head to the dining hall for dinner during the Center for Talented Youth summer program at Lafayette College. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Students play kickball during the Center for Talented Youth summer session at Lafayette College. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Zachary Goldstein, 15, from left, Christopher Jung, 14, SajHeed McNair, 14, Kevin Donohue, 13, and Michael Sangimino, 13, laugh during dinner at the Center for Talented Youth summer program at Lafayette College. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- David Mosco, 14, test drives his solar-powered car, which he built in Principles of Engineering Design class during Center for Talented Youth summer program at Lafayette College. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
- Mariette Sargios, 13, from left, Abigail Melton, 15, Lily Chu, 13, and Jayna Viswalingam, 14, put on makeup in preparation for the summer camp’s Masquerade Ball. The Lafayette College residential site is one of two dozen operated by the program at various college campuses, intended to offer academically adept students camaraderie, enrichment, and a taste of college life. —Melanie Burford/Prime for Education Week
A new scholarship program launched this summer by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth gives bright, low-income rural students the chance to take part in a challenging summer program at sites across the country. Rural Connections will give full scholarships during the next three years to more than 120 rural 7th, 8th, and 9th graders to attend three-week residential summer programs at one of 24 sites. Photographer Melanie Burford spent a day documenting students and teachers during the program at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., last month.














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