Virginia Tech Summer Academy nearly triples in attendance

BLACKSBURG (WSLS) -Virginia Tech Summer Academy reached its third year with a significant increase in attendance.

Since the program started three years ago, attendance rose from 126 its first year to 352 students this year.

"I mean, it's an incredible feeling," says Michael Herndon, Director of Summer and Winter Sessions. "I feel really great that we're really serving our students who otherwise might not be served, so it's a really great feeling to reach out to that population of students."

Not only are more students taking part in this session, but research shows that 70 percent of Summer Academy alumni from the past two years earned a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

In the program, students take a specialized track of courses. The classes the students complete go towards their general education requirements and towards classes required by their specific majors. Students also have the opportunity to take personal and academic workshops, as well as participate in social activities.

Officials are pleased by the success and growth of the program and hope to see even more Hokies next summer.

For more information on Virginia Tech Summer Academy, visit their website at www.vtsa.registrar.vt.edu.