Student U

Twenty years. One incredible community. 💙 To everyone who celebrated with us, thank you.

Thank you for cheering on students.
Thank you for sharing memories.
Thank you for believing that joy and academic excellence belong together.

Our 20th Anniversary wasn't just about looking back. It was about celebrating a community that continues to show up for students and imagining what's possible in the years ahead.

Here's to the next chapter, and to every student whose brilliance is still unfolding.

We couldn't do this without you. 💛

Tomorrow we celebrate 20 years of believing in students. 💙
Tomorrow isn't just a birthday party. It's a celebration of every student who discovered their voice. Every educator who showed up. Every family that trusted us. Every partner who believed in what was possible.

If you're joining us, we can't wait to celebrate together.

See you tomorrow! 🎉Saturday, Aug 1 from 11 AM - 2 PM

We’re halfway through Summer Academy, and our students are having a blast discovering their brilliance, building new skills, and growing into their best selves. Swipe through some of the highlights from an incredible summer so far!

A huge thank-you to our Summer Academy sponsors: TowneBank, Durham Academy, Three Oaks Engineering, CT Wilson Construction, Duke Energy, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC). Your support makes this brilliance possible! ☀️✨

Know a Durham student who’s ready to shine? ✨ Student U’s New Student Full Enrollment Applications are now open!

We’re looking for rising 6th through 11th graders who:
✅ Live in Durham County and attend Durham Public Schools
✅ Are performing at or slightly below grade level
✅ Qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and/or will be first-generation college graduates
✅ Have strong family support

Grade-level availability may vary. First-generation students are those whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree.

Applications are due August 3! Tag or share this with a Durham family who should know. 🎓 https://hubs.la/Q04qGG4C0

Before Summer Academy even began, 38 teachers spent two weeks building relationships, strengthening Student U culture, and gaining new tools to create impactful learning spaces. We were thrilled to welcome back former staff members Bettina Umstead and Alex Zagbayou, along with weare, to lead conversations about identity and culturally relevant classrooms. And with 26 returning teachers, this team brought plenty of experience, heart, and brilliance! Read the full blog by Communications Intern Amy Hydeon our website https://hubs.la/Q04qFqBG0🍎✨

One week until the party! 🎉

Whether you've been part of Student U since day one or you're just discovering us, we'd love to celebrate with you.

Expect good food, great people, stories that will make you laugh (and maybe cry a little), and plenty of reasons to feel hopeful about Durham's future.

Because 20 years is worth celebrating... and we're just getting started.

🎟️ There's still time to grab your ticket: https://hubs.la/Q04nFq_70

This week's Morning Brilliance Tour was a whole vibe. ✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us to experience the joy, energy, and brilliance of Student U’s Summer Academy! We loved sharing a glimpse of what happens when students, families, educators, and the community come together to help every student thrive.

Thanks for showing up, cheering on our students, and believing in their brilliance. 💛📚

Student U is hiring part-time team members to help Durham students thrive during the school year!

We are seeking caring, dependable people who believe in the brilliance of young people to serve as:
📘 Middle School & High School Advocates
✏️ Middle School & High School Academic Coaches

These roles are a great fit for educators, college students, youth development professionals, and community members who want to build meaningful relationships while supporting students’ academic success and personal growth.

Join our community of students, families, and educators cultivating joy and academic excellence in Durham and beyond.

Learn more and apply: https://hubs.la/Q04qnLCj0

Twenty years. Thousands of stories. Countless moments of brilliance.

For 20 years, Student U has been showing what's possible when students, families, educators, and a community believe in one another.
Now it's time to celebrate.

Join us for an evening of memories, joy, and looking ahead to the next 20 years of helping students thrive in Durham and beyond.

🥳 Come celebrate the people, partnerships, and moments that made it all possible.
📅 Saturday, August 1, 2026
🎟️ Get your tickets:https://hubs.la/Q04nFK950

Let these numbers sink in for a moment.

🎓 100% of Student U students who were actively enrolled as seniors graduate from high school.
🎓 53% of Student U graduates go on to complete college; more than double the national average for first-generation college students from low-income households.

That’s not an accident. That’s what happens when students have a community in their corner for the long haul. Educators who show up year after year. Families who are seen as real partners. A model built around what Durham students actually need.

These aren’t just statistics. They’re students from right here in Durham, proving what’s possible when a community believes in them.

Come see it in action at the Summer Academy Morning Brilliance Tour on July 21.

RSVP now and experience the impact firsthand: https://hubs.la/Q04nGhWY0