Past Shad Valley Queen's participants pose at Fort Henry

Some of the brightest students in the world will arrive at Queen’s next week for a month-long introduction to university life. The Shad Valley program allows young people in grades 10 – 12 to live in residence, attend lectures, meet faculty members and participate in workshops.

“They’re coming here for a university-type experience,” says Shad Valley Queen’s co-director Ian Wong. “They meet other people and create this really great network of friends who are with them for the rest of their lives.”

Mr. Wong completed the Shad Valley program in 1997 at the University of British Columbia. A Queen’s graduate, he has worked with the program in Kingston since 2004.

“I had such a great experience myself,” says Mr. Wong. “It’s a really great way to make a positive impact on youth.”

The selection process is competitive. In addition to academic excellence, student accepted to the program are often involved in their communities, working as volunteers, and participating in sports and the arts. At Queen's, students will focus on science, engineering, technology, mathematics, business and entrepreneurship and hear lectures from a number of professors including Leo Jonker (Mathematics), Jana Raver (School of Business), and Brian Amsden (Chemical Engineering).

“It’s exactly like a university lecture would be – except we’re not grading them,” says Mr. Wong. “They’re learning just for the sake of learning. It’s a relaxed atmosphere, the way learning should be.”

Students from across Canada, as well as one from Saudi Arabia and another from the United States, will arrive June 27. In addition to their academic work, they’ll go on weekly excursions and participate in a variety of fun activities.

For more information visit the Shad Valley website.