The Clerc Center Honors Program
Summit 2005

Students give high marks to MSSD’s first Academic and Leadership Camp

Over 30 students from across the country attended the first annual Summit 2005: An Academic and Leadership Camp for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. The camp was held June 20-July 1 on the campus of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD). Students from as far away as California, Mississippi, and Oklahoma took intensive Advanced Placement workshops in Biology, English, and U.S. History.

“The Summit 2005 camp was a wonderful experience and a big success,” said Daniel Dukes, coordinator of the camp. “We had a great group of students—diverse and highly motivated—who worked well together.” Students attended the Advanced Placement workshops in Biology, English, and U.S. History on a rotating basis. To add spice to the campers’ schedules, workshops were held in the morning on some days and then during the afternoon and evening on other days. According to Dukes, the workshops gave the students a taste of what it is like to attend Advanced Placement courses in high school.

ver 30 students from across the country attended the first annual Summit 2005, an academic and leadership camp for deaf and hard of hearing students, held June 20 – July 1, on the campus of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD). Students from as far away as California, Mississippi, and Oklahoma took intensive Advanced Placement workshops in Biology, English, and U.S. History. Tours of the Gallaudet University campus, of various landmarks and sites in Washington, D.C., a trip to Six Flags amusement park in Maryland, and a Washington Nationals night game at RFK stadium were also in store for campers.

In addition to the workshops held throughout the camp’s two-week run, the students were treated to a wide variety of fun-filled activities. They included tours of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., an all-day trip to Six Flags amusement park in Maryland, and a Washington Nationals night game at RFK Stadium.

The National Holocaust Museum left a somber impression on many of the students. One of the campers, Daniel Steed from California, was so moved by the visit there that he bought his mother a menorah pendant to bring back with him after Summit camp ended. Another camper, Wayman Chow from Mississippi, said, “The Holocaust Museum was very said, but very inspiring, too.”

Many campers expressed similar feelings about Summit 2005 relating to the wonderful camaraderie of socializing with fellow deaf students. “I really like the camp and I’m having a lot of fun,” said Chelsea Stone from Mississippi. “I’m from a mainstream school. Although the classes are fun, my social life is not too good there. A lot of the kids leave me out, or they get very frustrated when they talk to me and I can’t hear them. I’d love to come to MSSD next year…and I’m trying to talk to my mom about letting me come here.”

Lindsey Phelan from Connecticut, another mainstream student, also enjoyed her time at the camp, especially the opportunity to jump in and out of various conversations with her fellow campers. “I’m involved in sports at my school, so that helps me be more sociable there. But it’s still very difficult because I have a hard time hearing the other students. They give up trying to communicate with me. I have a cochlear implant; it helps, but I still have a hard time hearing them when they talk to me. I think the activities and events here at camp are great.” Phelan recently transferred to MSSD.

Because of the big success of Summit 2005, organizers are already working on plans to expand the number of campers for next year’s event. “We’re definitely looking at ways to expand next year’s camp and increase enrollment,” said Dukes.