Game Plan: Future provides free information, advice, and support designed to help high school students plan for and pursue their educational and career goals beyond high school.
Game Plan: Future provides free information, advice and support designed to help high school students plan for and pursue their educational and career goals beyond high school. Through workshops, advising, and special events, students gain the knowledge and skills they need to identify their best-fit college or postsecondary option. Our Game Plan: Future team is dedicated to ensuring that all students have the support they need to achieve the futures they envision.
All Game Plan: Future programs and services are free and open to high school students who reside in Durham County. The program targets students who come from families with unmet financial need, students who will be the first in their families to attend college, or students who are members of a traditionally underrepresented racial group.
Many students are first introduced to Game Plan: Future through a workshop held at their school or at the Emily K Center. Our workshops are designed to address the specific college access needs of high school students at varying points in their high school careers and can be tailored to any audience. Typical workshop topics include:
Interested in hosting a workshop at your school or community group? Please schedule a meeting with us!
Designed to assist students who want more support on their postsecondary journey, one-on-one advising sessions are offered virtually and in-person. Students can set up an appointment with our professional college access staff to discuss a variety of college access topics including:
One-on-one advising sessions are offered free of charge, and there is no minimum or maximum number of sessions required.
Throughout the year, Game Plan: Future hosts a variety of college access events and workshops designed to address specific needs of high school students. These events include:
For more information on these or other upcoming events, check out the calendar.
Please note: Our meetings are intended for current Durham high school students. If you are not currently in high school or a Durham resident and need assistance, please email us at gameplanfuture@emilyk.org
End of Year Data Report 2024-2025
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Use the links below to help begin your college search!
Remember, it’s never too early to start looking for scholarships! Click here for a list of different scholarships. You can also browse the scholarship sites below to maximize your search.
Summer enrichment opportunities are fun, invaluable experiences that can add to your college applications. These programs range in locations, topic, and time frame. Check out these links to find a summer program for you!
College Jumpstart is a FREE program for high school graduates Class of 2026! Students will receive support from our Game Plan: Future team to ensure a smooth transition to college life, including one-on-one advising sessions, text message reminders, connection to peers, and workshops on topics like financial aid and campus life.
Enrollment is rolling and there are no space limitations! Sign up today and join College Jumpstart.
Christina joined the Emily K Center in 2019 as a postsecondary access advisor, bringing more than five years of experience with direct college-access work in both urban and rural settings. Today, Christina oversees our Game Plan: Future program as our director of postsecondary access. She earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Favorite late-night college snack: Hot Cheetos and coffee
Favorite subject: Math
Cindy joined the Emily K Center during the summer of 2022. In her role as Lead Postsecondary Access Advisor with Game Plan: Future, Cindy works closely with area high schools to help students identify and pursue their best-fit postsecondary options. Cindy earned her B.A. from East Carolina University.
Favorite book: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Favorite college course: Gender in Gamer Culture and Abnormal Psychology
Ronicia joined the Emily K Center in 2024 as a Postsecondary Access Advisor. She is an alum of ECU, where she earned both a BA and Masters in Business Administration.
Favorite college snack: Snickers bar & Doritos
Favorite book: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Ravyn joined the Emily K. Center as a part-time Postsecondary Access Advisor with Game Plan: Future in fall 2025. She graduated a first-generation college student from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a B.A. in Communication Studies, and completed a Master of Youth, Family, and Community Science from North Carolina State University.
Favorite late-night college snack: Spicy Nacho Doritos and canned Mountain Dew
Best advice ever received about education: Be willing to approach everything with a student mentality so that you do not miss an opportunity to learn or be inspired.
Henry joined the Emily K Center team in September 2021, serving as a postsecondary access advisor with the Game Plan: Future program. Henry is well-positioned to help students with their college goals having earned his B.S. from St. Augustine’s University, MPA from North Carolina Central University, and doctoral degree from Walden University.
Favorite late-night college snack: Cool Ranch Doritos
Favorite college course: History of Black Cinema
Whitney joined the Emily K Center in 2024 as a Postsecondary Transition Advisor. She earned her B.A. from Wake Forest University in Political Science and her M.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from UNC-Greensboro.
Favorite school supply: A cute pencil pouch full of Paper Mate Flair Medium and Pilot G-2 07 pens
Favorite college course: English Art: Hogarth to Present and Hip Hop and Religion
Gordon joined the Emily K Center in 2023 as a Postsecondary Access Advisor. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from Duke, as well as an M.Ed. and Ph.D in Counseling Psychology. Gordon has had a career in education as a university admissions director, college counseling director, and career counselor at several universities.
Favorite course: The Psychology of the Child in History and Literature
Best advice ever received about education: Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t (with credit to Bill Nye, the Science Guy)
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