Junior Honors Summer Academy Courses
Completed Junior Year Spring 2022
Select two courses from two different subject areas!
Fantasy Literature: Heroes in the Making
Humanities
Mr. Chris Rosser. Heroes in the Making explores the hero as a character in myth and story, ancient and modern. From the clay etchings of Gilgamesh to colorful embodiments in graphic novels, hero characters live, move, and have their being among us, so pervasive that we largely take the hero archetype for granted. But what makes a hero? Through select readings and guided engagement with diverse media (including anime, film, comics, storytelling, and song), students analyze, celebrate, and problematize the hero archetype. Lovers of story and aspiring writers will deepen appreciation for heroes in the making: the construction of hero characters we know and love, heroes who inhabit fiction’s other worlds. But fiction has this power: what we learn in story is formative and follows us out, so that we also are (each of us) heroes in the making.
Introduction to Apologetics: Faith, Doubt and Evidence
Bible
Dr. Jim Baird. Many Christians want to know what to say that will help others understand why we believe what we believe. This class is a start on learning exactly that. We will understand some of the powerful evidences God has provided for Himself and for faith in Jesus. Through readings and classroom discussion, students will begin learning to give answers about their faith. Answers without anger and without timidity. Answers given in kindness and in love.
Introduction to Cell Biology
Science
Dr. Eric Phelps. Features lab culturing of HeLa Cells. Explore the significance of how one woman’s cancer and one scientist’s dream revolutionized Cellular Biology. Learn the fundamentals of how normal human cells are transformed into cancer cells; become familiar with laboratory sterile cell culture techniques; be responsible for maintaining proper growth conditions for a plate of human cancer cells.
Intro to Cybersecurity: Cyber Sleuthing
Professional Studies
Dr. Curtis Coleman. This course is designed to introduce high school students to the exciting science of Cybersecurity using an experiential approach to learning Computer Science, with an emphasis on application and teamwork. Students will be introduced to classical cryptography, malware and social engineering attacks, password cracking, and open source intelligence. The final exam for the week long course a practical exam, the Sherlock Holmes Escape Room, where students will work in teams and apply cybersecurity principles and skills to solve a cyber-mystery to escape from Sherlock’s Library.
Introduction to Engineering III
Professional Studies
Dr. Kevin Plumlee. This course is designed to introduce you to electrical, computer and mechanical engineering studies through lectures, problem solving, and an applied lab experiences. You will study the various approaches to engineering using the lab as an illustration of how engineers develop and implement solutions in their fields.
The undergraduate Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering degree programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.
Introduction to Mathematics
Professional Studies
Mr. Don Leftwich. In this course we will explore interesting concepts related to Mathematics and Philosophy. Students will be exposed to the symmetries and beauty of mathematics in ways that are not always apparent in traditional courses. Students will be challenged to think about and explore areas of mathematics that they will not likely have encountered before.
Introduction to Motion Capture
Humanities
Mr. Skyler Thomas. This course introduces students to reimagine how we tell stories in a digital age through Game Development & Virtual Production (VP). With Epic Games Unreal Engine and motion capture technology, virtual production empowers the world’s leading visual storytellers to deliver deeply immersive experiences that engage audiences like never before.