Niagara University Levesque Institute Hosts Summer Enrichment Camps for Niagara Falls High School Students

Jul 25, 2025   By Lisa McMahon

This July, Niagara University’s Levesque Institute hosted several groups of students from Niagara Falls High School as they learned more about the opportunities and resources available to help them achieve their goals for the future. 

From July 7-18, 11^th and 12^th graders in special education programs participated in a variety of structured lessons and activities to help them build a foundation to successfully navigate the transition from high school to adulthood.

The summer camp is the evolution of last year’s Inclusive NU program, now re-imagined as Bridges to Excellence, a two-year experience to connect students and their parents with community agencies and resources to help them gain independence after graduating from high school.

Bridges to Excellence students had "forensic fun" with biology professor Dr. Mark Gallo.

Over the two weeks, the campers attended presentations by counselors from Niagara University’s admissions, career services, and academic and career exploration program and learned more about Junior Achievement’s Career Readiness, Orleans-Niagara BOCES, Niagara Falls Workforce Training Center, and Goodskills programs. They also attended sessions on financial literacy and had “forensic fun” with NU biology professor Dr. Mark Gallo. At the end of the camp, the students presented the portfolios they began with the assistance of  NU social work senior Dreanna Parasram and received certificates of completion at a lunch ceremony.

Over the next two years, the students in the Bridges to Excellence program will come to NU’s campus each week to continue activities to build their portfolios, set post-graduation academic and employment goals, align their needs with available resources, earn credentials, and document their experiences.

Community partners will be on campus to connect students with transition services in preparation for graduation. Health and wellness is a component of the program, and  students will also have the opportunity to audit or register for college-level courses.

A second camp was held simultaneously for ninth through 12th grade Niagara Falls High School students in the Early College Smart Scholars college and career readiness program. During those two weeks, the students attended workshops and activities designed to increase their knowledge about the college process, choosing a major, and academic success. In addition, they learned about occupations in the medical field during visits to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, where they spent time in NU’s Biomedical Research Institute with Dr. Mary McCourt, the Michael J., ’60 and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Endowed Chair of Chemistry, and her students. The scholars also visited local tourist attractions and gained insight about travel and tourism from Levesque Institute community partners at CM Travel Agency.

This year, the Early College program will include a community service component to help the students earn the Civic Seal of Engagement, a designation that will be noted on their high school diploma.