Breakthrough

to Your Future

Breakthrough to Your Future

Westminster College seeks to make the transition from high school to college easier by engaging select high school students in their junior and/or senior years in on-campus activities. NHS students are uniquely qualified for this program.

Components of the Program include:

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Who is eligible?

Breakthrough is open to all current high school NHS juniors and seniors. Students who enroll during their junior year may repeat the course during their senior year.

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What does the program cost?

Because this program is highly selective, participants will be awarded a full-tuition scholarship. Some additional scholarship funding (needs-based) is available to cover the cost of travel to and from the Westminster campus.

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How do I sign up?

To apply, students need a membership in National Honor Society, a completed application form, and a recommendation by the NHS advisor and one other faculty member. All materials submitted no later than January 1, 2020. For questions, please contact Dr. Ingrid Ilinca, Associate Dean of Student Success at Westminster College at ingrid.ilinca@WCMO.edu or (573) 592-5323.

Registration Form

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Overview of LST 100

Students will engage in activities and projects throughout the academic year—some on the campus of Westminster College, some through live streaming or virtual class sessions, and some through working both directly and remotely with Westminster faculty mentors.

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Because our signature event on campus, the Hancock Symposium, focuses on the concept of “breakthrough” this year, students will study key scientific, technological, educational, social, and artistic breakthroughs. At the same time, they will engage in personal and professional development activities, helping them explore avenues to their future and means of achieving potential breakthroughs of their own. At the end of the spring semester, successful students will receive one hour of academic credit at Westminster College.

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Course Plan

Because we know high school juniors and seniors have very busy lives, we have designed LST 100 with as much flexibility as possible. Those students able to come to campus regularly will be asked to attend the following events:

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Students unable to come to campus for all of these events will able to watch them through livestreaming or videotaped programming, will meet with faculty and staff through Zoom or Skype, and will be offered supplemental materials to help them complete the assignments.

Assignments

  • Occasional readings will accompany the campus events, chosen to help deepen students’ knowledge of the topics of discussion.
  • All assignments will be typed and submitted through Canvas, Westminster’s course management system. They will be evaluated for content only.
  • Students will write two informal response papers, one focused on what they learned through the Hancock Symposium; the other focused on the C.S. Lewis Lecture or the Model U.N. simulation. Faculty will provide prompts for students to respond to.
  • Students will write a self-assessment based on what they learned through the StrengthsQuest program.
  • Students will write a paper that describes the most significant learning experiences of the year, what they gained from those experiences, and how they view themselves as learners and leaders. Students will also use this final paper to reflect on their own growth and set goals for the future.
  • All students in LST 100 will be provided regular mentoring by a Westminster faculty member. The purpose of this relationship is to help students get answers to their questions about the adjustment to college academics, set and explore career goals, and set and explore goals for leader-development.

FAQs

  • LST 100 is built around key events at Westminster College and NHS students’ participation in those events. Some readings will accompany the events in order to give students background information, and students will write response papers to help them explore the significance of what they are learning.
  • The federal requirement for one hour of academic credit is 45 hours. Therefore the amount of time will vary from week to week, with 45 hours spread out through the year. These hours include possible time on campus as well as time spent reading and writing.
  • There is no requirement that you come to campus. We prefer that you visit four to five times in order to enjoy on-campus events. However, we provide an online version for any events you cannot attend.
  • No. Because Westminster is an accredited institution, LST 100 will transfer to most other colleges and universities.
  • You will receive an official Westminster transcript at the end of the course, with a letter grade.
  • Please contact Dr. Ingrid Ilinca, Associate Dean of Student Success, at ingrid.ilinca@WCMO.edu or (573) 592-5323.