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FOCUS Academy 

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2023 FOCUS Academy Dates: 

July 31-August 4

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2023 FOCUS Academy Costs: $500 (includes program, food, and lodging)

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2023 Schedule (subject to change):

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8:00-9 am:           Breakfast

9:30-10 am:         Morning Group Session

10:15-11:45 am:  STEM Workshop Session 1

12-1 pm:              Lunch

1:15-2:45 pm:      STEM Workshop Session 2

3-3:30 pm:           Afternoon Group Session

3:30-4:00 pm:      Afternoon Break

4:00-5 pm:           Evening Workshop

5:00-6 pm:           Dinner

6:00-7 pm:           Evening Break in Dorm

7:00-9 pm:           "The STEM Lounge" (Game night; movie 

                            night, etc.) 

9:00-10 pm:          Back to rooms

10 pm:                  Room check

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FOCUS Academy*

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The FOCUS Academy was born out of the numerous requests from our FOCUS middle school camp alumni who loved the program so much that they wanted to continue through high school.  After a short pilot in 2017, the official FOCUS Academy residential program* for high school students began in 2018.  This program is designed to be more advanced and immersive in the college experience than the FOCUS middle school programs. The STEM workshops are longer and more advanced, but there are also many other enhancement sessions that are included such as college and SAT prep, goal setting, fitness classes, a farewell party, and more.  

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The participants stay in suite-style upperclassmen dorms which have two rooms connected by a bathroom.  Two participants reside in each room.  The FOCUS Academy counselors and a dorm leader (graduate student or senior leadership) stay in single rooms on the same floor as the participants.  

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Sample Schedule**

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Monday (Science Day):

Registration

Camp pre-assessment

Team building activities

Science workshop 1

Buffet lunch in university dining hall (included in camp price)

Science workshop 2

Team building activities and review

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Tuesday (Technology Day):

Team building activities

Technology workshop 1

Buffet lunch in university dining hall (included in camp price)

Technology workshop 2

Team building activities and review

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Wednesday (Engineering Day):

Team building activities

Engineering workshop 1

Buffet lunch in university dining hall (included in camp price)

Engineering workshop 2

Team building activities and review

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Thursday (Mathematics Day):

Team building activities

Mathematics workshop 1

Buffet lunch in university dining hall (included in camp price)

Mathematics workshop 2

Team building activities and review

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Friday:

STEM Leadership and Entrepreneurship workshop 

Camp post-assessment

Preparation for poster presentations

Buffet lunch in university dining hall (included in camp price)

Poster presentations and closing ceremony

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*While the program is designed for girls, the program is open to all gender identities.

Examples of past workshops:

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Forensic Chemistry

Identification of Individuals using DNA Profiles

So You Want to Start a New Business? (Math with MITRE)

Bioinformatics

Virtual Reality and its Applications

Microscopy and Mitosis

Photographic Chemistry and Cyanotypes

HTML Programming

Meteorology with NBC's Veronica Johnson

Cybersecurity

Coding

Crime Scene Investigation

The Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine

Forensic Entomology

Rockets & Satellites with The Aerospace Corporation

College preparation and Goal Setting

Forensic Chemistry

Polarized Light Microscopy

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FOCUS Academy Dormitory

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Student Center Food Court Options (Other dining options include:  Chick Fil-A, Dunkin Donuts, Einstein Bros Bagels, Subway, etc.)

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Sample Residential Schedule*

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Day One:

Check in and orientation

Camp pre-assessment

Team building activities

Lunch in university student center food court

STEM workshop

Campus tour & college admissions overview

Dinner in university student center court

Movie night

Room check

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Day Two:

Breakfast in university student center food court

STEM workshop 1

Lunch in university student center food court

STEM workshop 2

College prep and goal setting session

Dinner in university student center food court

Game night

Room check

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Day Three:

Breakfast in university student center food court

STEM workshop 1

Lunch in university student center food court

STEM workshop 2

Fitness class

Dinner in university student center food court

Movie night

Room check

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Day Four:

Breakfast in university student center food court

STEM workshop 1

Lunch in university student center food court

STEM workshop 2

Undergraduate student panel discussion

Dinner in university student center food court

Farewell Party

Room check

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Day Five:

Breakfast in university student center food court

STEM workshop 1

Lunch in university student center food court

Post-Assessment

Closing Ceremony

Check out

The 2019 FOCUS Academy participants attended the dedication of the Katherine G. Johnson Hall building on the George Mason University Science and Technology campus as VIP guests.  Above they are pictured in front of the Katherine Johnson building with Ms. Johnson's daughters, Katherine Moore and Joylette Hylick, as well as Mason's President at the time, Ángel Cabrera.

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