There are plenty of books and guides out there that can teach young men about college, but nothing compares to real, on-campus experiences.

Approximately 200 high school students from around the country have gotten a glimpse into college life during the past three years by participating in one of Wabash’s two new summer programs: Pathway to Your Future and Playbook for Life: Navigating Careers in the World of Sports.

Both programs are designed for rising high school sophomores and juniors.

Steven Jones ’87, dean for professional development and director of the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies (MXIBS), says colleges like Wabash must connect with these scholars early and often to improve student outcomes, such as college enrollment, retention, and graduation rates.

“It’s all about building connections,” explains Jones. “When you think about students who have the right GPA, are involved with extracurriculars—are captains of this, or presidents of that—if you have not established a relationship with them early in their high school journey, when they get to the point of making a decision about college, they’re going to have a zillion options. The institutions that do a better job of creating those relationships earlier in the process will have a better chance of closing the deal with those individuals.”

Jones speaks from his own experience. In 1982, he attended Opportunities to Learn About Business (OLAB), a one-week summer program formerly at Wabash designed for rising high school seniors interested in business and the market economy.

During that time on campus, Jones connected with Wabash students, faculty, and staff.

“It was through those relationships that I realized I do belong here,” he says. “This is a place where I could see myself. Those feelings are still valid for high school students today.”