While taking summer classes may seem like the last way a high school student wants to spend their summer, each year Klein College of Media and Communication’s High School Summer Media Program attracts groups of students with a passion for learning and an interest in attending Temple University.
After not running in 2020 and running virtually in 2021, the program returned for its second year back in person for the summer of 2023. Students can choose from three two-week sessions that offer intensive workshops taught by our own Klein College professors.
This summer’s offerings included Sports Reporting taught by Adjunct Instructor John DiCarlo, KLN ’98 ’06, and Commentary in Column Writing taught by Professor Linn Washington, KLN ’73.
“They were just a fantastic group,” DiCarlo said of his students. Though the summer program class sizes are smaller, DiCarlo had the opportunity to teach students from West Philadelphia to as far away as Bahrain. “When they can spend two immersive weeks with us, it’s awesome,” he said.
To prepare for the course, DiCarlo takes the best of the syllabi from the sports writing and sports reporting courses he teaches during the school year. Even though he only has two weeks, and his students are younger than he is used to, DiCarlo is sure to make the course worth their time by giving them a taste of what an actual college course is like.
DiCarlo’s class includes a trip to the Temple basketball complex to interview coaches and prepare a pre-season write-up about the team. For many students, it’s their first time writing with such a quick turnaround, but DiCarlo noted that they rise to the occasion each year.
Freshman media studies and production major Patrick Dallahan took DiCarlo’s workshop in summer 2022 and has returned to Temple this year as he starts his college career.
Originally from Connecticut, Dallahan has family roots in Philadelphia and has always been excited about the possibility of attending Temple.
“I think the program opened my eyes to Temple as a school,” Dallahan said. During the workshop, he interacted with current students and learned from a professional like DiCarlo to get a feel for what it’s like to be a Klein student. Dallahan is excited to finally be back and advance his media skills.
In Washington’s column writing class, students gained experience with affective writing for commentary and opinion. Washington noted that it was refreshing to see students with such an inspired approach to learning.
The workshop had participants from New York and New Jersey, as well as Paris and Greece. “The students, both domestically and internationally, were great students,” Washington said.
On the last day of class, Washington and the students toured WHYY with Managing Editor Bobbi Booker, KLN ’85 ‘23. Washington is always looking for ways to expose students to experiences outside of the classroom.
Assistant Professor of Practice Saleem Ahmed, KLN ’11, helps coordinate the summer program and is glad that in addition to taking classes, students get to explore campus and the city. He hopes that Klein’s opportunities for high school students can extend to weekend workshops one day so students can experience what it’s like to be here when campus is filled with current students.
“I think a big draw on campus is that kind of energy,” Ahmed said.
Director of Summer and Pre-College Programs at Temple Maureen Saraco, EDU ‘20 manages academic and student life for the summer program.
“I think summer is a good time to get your feet wet without it being overwhelming,” Saraco wrote. “Students get the experience of going to school in the city and navigating a large campus in a supportive environment with lots of guidance available to them both in and out of the classroom.”