Summer Immersion Program

In this Issue:

• Summer Immersion Program for high school students
• The impact of a Wake Forest education: Interview with Paul Meyer (’05), Director of Internal Communications at The Home Depot
• A thing of beauty and a joy forever: Ed Wilson (’43) reading “To Autumn” by Keats

Today’s Daily Deac takes a look at Wake Forest summer options for high schoolers, a look at how Wake helped propel an alumnus in his career, and we finish off with poetry for fall. Take what serves you and pass the rest.

Summer Immersion Program for high school students

If you have high school aged kids at home, this item is for you! Did you know that Wake offers a series of exceptional summer programs for high schoolers? Read on:

“We are pleased to invite high school students to apply to the Wake Forest University Summer Immersion Program for 2026 starting November 1. This program will offer high school students the opportunity to explore their passions, deepen their knowledge, and gain hands-on experience in their chosen field of study.

Save the Date: Application Opens on November 1

Program dates: Week-long sessions, June-July 2026.

Popular SIP 2026 Institutes:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Engineering
• Finance and Investing
• Filmmaking
• Law
• Medicine
• Sports Business

Learn about all 20+ institutes

High school students will:

• Study alongside Wake Forest faculty and industry experts
• Engage in hands-on learning experiences
• Explore college life and potential career paths”

I cannot recommend summer college experiences strongly enough. When my ’27 was a rising high school senior, they did a summer drum major camp at a college. Not only did my ’27 learn the ins and outs of being a good drum major, but they also learned to navigate a college campus independently. This helped tremendously in building my student’s confidence when it was time to move in to their real college, because they had some muscle memory to rely on.

And – if I am most honest with myself – it also allowed me as a mom to have a ‘practice run’ at letting go and learning to live with the discomfort of not being in control of my kiddo’s day-to-day. (Yes, despite the fact that I provide college parent/family guidance every day, it is often hard for me to practice what I preach!)

So consider giving your high schooler the gift of the Summer Immersion Program!

The impact of a Wake Forest education: Interview with Paul Meyer (’05), Director of Internal Communications at The Home Depot

While our students are in college, we might be asking about their classes, their favorite professors, etc. And I suspect most of us as parents and family members look forward to the day when our students get jobs and begin supporting themselves financially :)

Today I have the pleasure of bringing you a short interview with a Wake alumnus who talks about how his Wake education has helped inform his career in communications: enjoy this Q&A featuring Paul Mayer (’05), director of internal communications at the Home Depot. The business school featured this conversation on their website. 

If you choose to read the interview, one of the things Paul references is the speech that President Thomas K. Hearn, Jr. gave in Wait Chapel on the evening of September 11, 2001. That speech remains in my mind as well. It might have been Dr. Hearn’s greatest moment.

Within the span of just one day, Dr. Hearn was able to craft an exceptional speech to help contextualize the day to our students, who were without their parents/families, were anxious/grieving/angry, and who needed an elder voice of reason to help steady them. Dr. Hearn’s speech did just that.

A thing of beauty and a joy forever: Ed Wilson (’43) reading “To Autumn” by Keats

This might resonate especially with alumni families in the Daily Deacdom – but I hope it might be enjoyable to all: it is our late, so-much-beloved Ed Wilson (’43) reading “To Autumn” by Keats.

Provost Wilson – as he was known in my student days – was an English professor specializing in British Romantic Poetry and also the works of Blake, Yeats, and Thomas. He had a legendary, decades long career as both a faculty member and a provost and administrator. He was Mr. Wake Forest.

It was hard to get into Provost Wilson’s classes because he was so beloved, by English majors and all other students alike. He would read poems in class with his beautiful Southern accent, warm and welcoming, and he made you feel like all was right with the world.

Hope you enjoy it.