Scholars to College
Serving students in grades 9-12
Scholars to College ensures that high school students challenge themselves academically and personally and explore their unique leadership potential, ultimately becoming high school seniors who are scholarship-eligible, college-ready, and admissible to their best-fit colleges and universities.
Scholars to College is a free, cohort-model college readiness program serving high school students in grades 9-12. The program is designed to assist ambitious, academically-focused, and underrepresented first-generation students from Durham County and prepare them for success at selective four-year colleges and universities. Through weekly small group instruction, one-on-one guidance from a dedicated College Readiness Counselor, and summer enrichment opportunities, students receive holistic support in the areas of college planning, personal management and leadership, academic skill development and career exploration. To date, nearly 100% of our Scholars to College graduates have been accepted to college.
A typical Scholars to College student resides in Durham County, North Carolina and is enrolled in high school. To be eligible for Scholars to College, students must meet income qualifications which are based on federal low income guidelines and updated annually.
Strong candidates for the program are generally students with strong academic focus and robust family support. Additionally, students must demonstrate strong personal character, work ethic, and integrity, as evidenced through teacher recommendations, personal statements, and an interview.
Benefits of the Scholars to College program include:
- An assigned College Readiness Counselor to work one-one-one with your student
- Weekly small group instruction
- SAT/ACT preparation
- One-on-one subject area tutoring, if desired
- Spring break college tours
- Career and college major exploration opportunities
- Summer enrichment via camps and travel
- College application and financial aid application support
- A network of program alumni
Scholars to College is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. To apply, complete application and teacher recommendation forms below. If completing a print application, please return to the Emily K Center (904 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701).
Students who most closely meet the admissions profile are considered the strongest candidates and will be contacted for an interview. Please contact scholarstocollege@emilyk.org with any questions.
**School counselors who collect complete applications on behalf of their students should contact scholarstocollege@emilyk.org to arrange a pick up.*
2026-2027 Scholars to College Application Materials:
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Impact
108
students enrolled.
100 %
of seniors graduated high school on time.
81 %
of students will be the first in their families to attend college.
Meet the Scholars to College Team
Zenovia Hogue
Director of College Readinesszhogue@emilyk.org
919-680-0308
Zenovia joined the Emily K Center team in 2024 as a Postsecondary Transition Advisor with Game Plan: Future, and became the Director of College Readiness for Scholars to College in July, 2025. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Guilford College and a Masters in Mental Health and School Counseling from NC Central University.
Favorite late night college snack: Reese’s Cups
Best advice ever received about education: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”
Jaida Torain
College Readiness Counselor, Class of 2029jtorain@emilyk.org
919-680-0308 x221
Jaida joined the Emily K Center in 2024 as a College Readiness Counselor. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from UNC Charlotte and will begin her graduate studies in Higher Education Administration at NC Central University in the fall of 2024.
Favorite college course: Positive Psychology
Favorite late night college snack: Motts Gummies
Joshua Crump
College Readiness Counselor, Class of 2028jcrump@emilyk.org
919-680-0308 x222
Joshua joined the Emily K Center in 2021 as a college readiness counselor. In this role, Joshua works closely with students in our 2025 Scholars to College cohort. A proud North Carolina Central University Eagle, Joshua earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the school.
Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Favorite college course: Diversity and Family Transition
Sergio Madera-Garcia
College Readiness Counselor, Class of 2027smadera@emilyk.org
910-680-0424 x224
Sergio joined the Emily K Center full-time in 2024 and was previously a part-time Curriculum Specialist with Scholars to College. Sergio is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University where he earned his M.Ed in Higher Education.
Favorite late night college snack: Mangoes
Favorite school supply: Colored gel pens (especially the Sharpie kind)!
Ginny Larkin-Thorsen
College Readiness Counselor, Class of 2026glarkinthorsen@emilyk.org
919-680-0308 x223
Ginny began her role as college readiness counselor for the Emily K Center Scholars to College program in early 2022. She is currently working closely with the Class of 2026 as they make their college decisions. Ginny earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MPA from North Carolina State University.
Favorite late-night college snack: Frozen garlic bread
Favorite school supply: Notebooks and pens!
Shanice Green
Scholars to College Program Assistantsgreen@emilyk.org
919-680-0308 x225
Shanice joined the Emily K Center in September of 2021, serving as our Scholars to College program assistant. Shanice earned her undergraduate degree from North Carolina Central University and received her M.Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Favorite school supply: Colorful pens
Favorite late-night college snack: Peanut M&Ms
Volunteer With Scholars to College
Scholars to College Subject Area Tutors work with our high school students in a one-on-one setting in a variety of subjects, with the greatest need in math and the sciences. Volunteers in this role have expertise in a subject area relevant to high school coursework and experience tutoring or teaching. The time commitment is generally one hour per week during after-school or early evening hours, depending on student schedules. Anyone interested in serving as a volunteer subject area tutor should contact our team at scholarstocollege@emilyk.
Student Spotlight
Meet Oyinkan and Oyinda, Class of 2020
Twins Oyinkan and Oyinda first came to the Emily K Center as elementary school students in our Pioneer Scholars program and recently graduated with the Class of 2020. During her time at the Center, Oyinkan was involved with the National Honors Society and had an internship with Duke University Hospital. Oyinda took full advantage of the summer enrichment activities available to her during her time in Scholars to College, including a summer immersion program at Wake Forest University which allowed her to learn more about a career in medicine. Both Oyinkan and Oyinda are currently enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill and now participate in our Scholars on Campus program. Oyinda recently shared, “My past ten years at the Center have shaped me into who I am today.”
