Baylor Hosts Inaugural Examined Life Scholars Program for Local High School Students

For two weeks this summer, 12 high school students from the Waco area studied the works of Plato and Aristotle, explored life on Baylor's campus, and got a glimpse of the college experience as part of the university’s inaugural Examined Life Scholars (ELS) Program.

Funded by a planning grant from the Teagle Foundation and hosted by the Honors College, the intiative was led by Honors Program Director Elizabeth Corey, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Communication in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core Samuel Perry, Ph.D., and Assistant Director of Admissions Kristy Brischke, MS Ed. 

“Our goal in starting this program is to provide a place for students to see themselves being part of a campus community and imagine themselves in college,” Perry said. “The students really bought into the program, and I know they are poised to do great things. I am looking forward to seeing what they do this year and into the future.”

The program introduced rising seniors to seminar-style learning rooted in the liberal arts, inviting them to engage deeply with philosophical texts and reflect on what it means to live a meaningful life.

“What struck me was the development we saw over only two weeks,” Corey said. “On the first day, everyone was quiet and looked a little shellshocked. We launched into a difficult Platonic dialogue, the Gorgias. But by the end of the two weeks, we were discussing Plato and Aristotle as if they were old friends, talking about virtue, moral responsibility, and how to find the Aristotelian mean in our actions.”

Each seminar included participation from Baylor Honors College undergraduates who offered encouragement and helped the high school students begin to picture themselves in a college setting. These undergraduate mentors will continue supporting the high schoolers throughout their senior year as they navigate college applications and scholarship opportunities.

“The mentors have been amazing,” Peyton Morales, a rising senior at University High School said. “They’re not just there to supervise, but they participate in class and talk with us. It’s like having a friend who also knows the ropes, and the fact that they’ll keep meeting with us during our senior year is huge. It makes everything feel more doable.”

Ava Lane, a rising senior at Midway High School, said the learning environment made her rethink her own potential. 

“I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did,” Lane said. “I’m not naturally good at reading or rhetoric, but this program made me realize I could get better. There’s joy in learning with other people. I’ve made friends, I’ve learned so much, and I’ve started to think differently about what I want to do in the future.”

Outside the classroom, students took part in afternoon programming designed to introduce them to college life. They met with campus leaders, toured Baylor facilities, and learned about financial aid, academic advising, and student involvement.

“The ELS program really was a campus-wide effort,” Brischke said. “We had support from the Honors College, Undergraduate Admissions, Campus Recreation, Campus Living and Learning, Student Activities, Multicultural Affairs, Baylor One Stop, academic advising, the Martin Museum of Art, and many others. Because so many areas were involved, the students were able to get a multidimensional picture of collegiate life. They were exposed to athletics, campus activities, financial support, and the arts, all parts of the college experience that many students had never considered before.”

Morales said the experience helped make college feel more within reach.

“Before this program, college felt kind of overwhelming,” Morales said. “But after doing the financial aid workshops and learning about different majors, I feel more prepared. I know it’s still going to be a process, but I’ve got more tools now.”

Building on the success of the pilot, the ELS team plans to apply for an implementation grant from the Teagle Foundation this fall. If awarded, the next phase would expand the program to include a residential component and additional faculty, allowing more students to participate and experience life on a college campus.

“If the grant is awarded, we hope to make the Examined Life Scholars program a residential experience,” Brischke said. “Many students had never been exposed to the realities of college life before this. Staying in a residence hall would help them truly picture themselves on a college campus. With more faculty and additional funding, we could expand to serve more schools in Waco and the surrounding areas. I know how transformative this could be for students in similar districts.”

For more on the Honors College experience, including programs and opportunities, visit honors.baylor.edu.