On January 28, Anderson University hosted 15 young men from Emerald High School and Greenwood High School who are enrolled in MODELS Academy. They toured the campus and met with various AU faculty staff and students during their visit. Tour stops included the AU Culinary Center, digital media lab, performing arts facilities, athletic facilities and various classrooms.  

From its inception, the mission of MODELS Academy has been to transform the lives of young African American men, grooming them to become role models and leaders. The visit is a part of a larger project with the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Initiative.  

MODELS Academy is a holistic mentoring and personal development program that addresses the social, academic, career and cultural development of African American males in grades 4-12. MODELS Academy is hosted at Piedmont Technical College and serves 40 schools in Greenwood, Laurens, Edgefield, Abbeville, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda counties. The goal of this project is to expose MODELS students to four-year institutions such as Anderson University and to increase success rates among African American males in baccalaureate education institutions.