The Emily K Center designed, piloted, and implements the K to College Model, a series of three sequential out-of-school programs that serve elementary aged through college aged students from Durham, NC. The Pioneer Scholars Program develops a strong foundation of academic skills in 1st through 8th grade students to ensure readiness for a college-preparatory high school curriculum. The Scholars to College Program ensures that high school students realize success in and out of school, ultimately developing in graduating seniors who are self-assured, scholarship-eligible and college-ready. Finally, the Scholars on Campus Program ensures that our high school graduates make a successful transition to higher education taking full advantage of the resources available to them on their campuses.

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Our mission is to inspire economically disadvantaged students to dream big, strive for academic excellence, act with character and purpose, and reach their highest potential as leaders in the community. Additionally, the Center itself serves as a valuable resource to the greater Durham and Triangle area. Mission-aligned organizations utilize the Center to convene meetings, teach students or young adults, and/or increase their own organizational capacity.

The first program in the K to College Model sequence is Pioneer Scholars, which serves elementary and middle school students through daily, individualized, academic tutoring during the school year and project-based summer instruction. Lead Tutors and Volunteer Tutors teach small groups of six to eight students to ensure that they are developing a strong foundation of academic skills to ensure readiness for success in a college-preparatory high school curriculum. Our Scholars to College program ensures that our high school students realize success in and out of school, ultimately developing into graduating seniors who are self-assured, scholarship-eligible and college-ready. Curriculum Specialists, Lead Counselors and College Candidacy Advisors support cohorts of 15 students in the areas of academic skill development, pathway to college, career exploration, personal management, and leadership and ethics during weekly lessons, college counseling and mentoring sessions. Scholars on Campus, launched in fall 2012, provides our high school graduates with comprehensive planning and relationship-based support to ensure that they successfully transition to higher education and take full advantage of the resources available to them on campus. These three sequential programs prepare students to excel throughout their elementary, middle, and high school years and to achieve success in college and 21st century careers. The program is available free of charge to students who qualify by participating in the free/reduced lunch program, displaying evidence of academic focus and strong family support. New students apply and complete an application and interview in the spring.