High School Students Benefit from Adelphi First Pre-College Law Program

For eight years, Adelphi University has been preparing high school students for the future through pre-college programs in subjects such as nursing, psychology, science and more. From July 9 to July 22, Adelphi offered its first Law and Society Pre-College Prograhere six students lived on campus to boost their college experience, received college credits and learned about aspects of the law through field trips and college classes.

Deborah Little, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, headed the program and taught different areas of law, the process of lawmaking and the organization and role of courts. Students went to the Nassau County District Court in Hempstead to attend two court proceedings where they were able to apply the law they had learned in class to real life cases. 

Students with Adelphi alumnus Hon. Scott Fairgrieve before attending a court proceeding.

“The curriculum goes above and beyond as to what the actual topic is,” said Emily Caravella, from MacArthur High School. “I think coming here is not only about the college credit and living on campus and learning the 101 of each sector but also the important life lessons that you don’t learn in high school.”

Adelphi alumni, students and faculty were not shy to lend a helpful hand in invigorating the program. Adelphi peer assistants, Wensley Sarkar Bynoe ’18 and Heidi Peňa Ortiz ’17, aided the students throughout the day so they would be adapted to the life of a college student. Adelphi adjunct professor and attorney and counselor at The Law Offices of Cory H. Morris, Cory Morris, invited the students to attend his graduate class in forensic psychology where they heard from Nassau County District Attorneys. Adelphi alumna, Crystal Tsang ’11, spoke with the students about the importance of credit, how to understand credit card terms, credit scores and how to avoid debt. Current student, Danielle McDougall ’18, also spoke to the students about her fellowship with Rural and Migrant Ministries on Long Island and its work to help pass the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practice Act in New York.

Students agree that the program was a positive experience that will assist them in their future endeavors. “I’m going to be an incoming freshman next year,” said Adam Race, from North Royalton High School. “This has definitely been helpful and has phased me into the school a little bit. I’ve definitely learned about the campus and where everything is and met a lot of people.”