We provide assistance to 164 UNC Charlotte students to make secondary education dreams a reality. Building Educational Strengths and Talents (BEST) at UNC Charlotte supports you as you strive for excellence, to maintain focus, and in your creation of a well-rounded collegiate experience. While there are multiple ways to become a member of BEST, most of our Achievers (students participating in BEST
) are striving to attain the distinction of becoming among the first in their family to earn a baccalaureate degree. Enrichment Activities
Learning also occurs outside of the classroom. We believe that the arts are important and we celebrate diverse cultures. We expose our Achievers to different cultural and artistic activities. The larger program, BEST, regularly enjoys a variety of activities. These have included:
• Experiential – Artistic
Pottery painting
Pottery making
Movie making
Batiking
• Experiential - Out-of-doors
Horseback riding
Skiing
Whitewater rafting
Ice skating
• Theatrical performances
"Wicked"
"Billy Elliot"
Physical theater set to music
The Oconaluftee Indian Village
Language & Culture of the Gullah Islands (Beauford, SC)
Antebellum South (Charleston, SC)
Historic Williamsburg, VA
• Community Service
Carolina Raptor Center
Habitat for Humanity
Urban Crisis Ministries
Not all events are off-campus. In many respects, BEST cultural events happen most anytime a group of Achievers get together. Achievers attend a number of on campus events based on similar interest and/or the opportunity to support one another. Past activities have included roundtable discussions with noted authors, change agents, and movie directors, sporting events, talent competitions, fashion shows, poetry readings, plays, panel discussions, etiquette dinners, and even water balloon battles.
