The Pioneer Scholars program at the Emily Krzyzewski Center is a free after school, academic enrichment program for underserved elementary and middle school students who reside in AND attend a school in Durham County. Through academic skill building, career and college exploration, and enrichment activities, the goal of the program is to prepare students for success in high school.

Student Admission Criteria

The Emily K Center is committed to enrolling students who are the best fit for the support and expectations of the Pioneer Scholars program. The application process is a competitive one involving an interview, and only those students who most closely meet the admissions criteria are considered for admission. We are seeking applicantswho meet the following criteria:

Academic Potential: Applicants must demonstrate curiosity for learning as well as responsibility for their own learning, interactions, and conduct. The typical Pioneer Scholars student performs near, at, or above grade-level and consistently attends school. Applicants must submit their most recent report cards with attendance information, as well as the final report card with attendance information from the previous school year. Please note that rising first grade students only need to submit the most recent report card.

 
Leadership Potential: Applicants must demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively with peers and are involved positive members of their school community. We are looking for applicants who consistently display integrity, honesty, respect, and a willingness to put their best effort into every task, advocate for their needs, and persevere when things are difficult. 

Income & Residency: The mission of the Emily K Center is to create equitable access to educational and economic resources for students in Durham County who face systemic barriers to educational opportunity. In order to qualify for the Pioneer Scholars program, families must reside in Durham County, demonstrate financial need, and the student must attend a school in Durham County – public, charter, private or homeschool. Families whose students are selected for an interview are asked to provide documentation to verify financial eligibility. The Center will use personal financial data for eligibility purposes only and will destroy all collected information at the conclusion of the application process. 

Family Support: For a student to be successful in the Pioneer Scholars program, families must commit to partnering with the program by encouraging active participation and supporting their child(ren)’s academic achievement. Additionally, families are required to arrange for transportation to and from the Emily K Center and remain in consistent communication with program staff concerning their child(ren)’s academic performance and behavior.

Application Process Overview

Application Window: The application window will open on Monday, January 19, 2026 and the priority deadline to submit applications for the 2026-2027 school year is Friday, April 10, 2026. Completed applications can be dropped off at the Emily K Center Monday – Friday from 10:00AM – 5:30PM or mailed to:

Emily K Center
Attn: Pioneer Scholars Program
904 W. Chapel Hill St.
Durham, NC 27701

Please note that staff can only confirm receipt of applications by phone. All admission decisions are communicated via email.

Completed Application Components: Only completed applications are reviewed by staff. For your child(ren)’s application to be reviewed, you must submit:

• The Pioneer Scholars application with all questions in each section answered in detail.
• The Pioneer Scholars student application for middle school students with all questions answered in detail.
• A copy of the student's most recent report card showing grades and attendance information.
• A copy of the student's final report card from the previous year showing grades and attendance for all four quarters.
• One teacher recommendation is required for all applicants from classroom teachers who can speak to the student’s academic performance in math, reading, science, and social studies. Please share the following link: bit.ly/psteacherrec with the classroom teachers to complete. 

Family Interview: For applicants who most closely meet admissions criteria, a date will be set for you and your child(ren) to meet with Pioneer Scholars staff. The purpose of this interview is to explain the structure of the program, gauge whether the student and their family is a good match for the program andallow the family to gauge whether the program and staff are a good match for the student. Families will need to provide documentation of financial eligibility at this time. Staff will provide additional information on acceptable documentation when the interview is scheduled.

Admissions Decisions: Final admission decisions are not solely based on the family interview. All aspects of a student's application, including their grades, attendance, teacher recommendations, academic and leadership potential, and desire to participate in the program weigh heavily in the final selection process. Families will receive notification of their child(ren)’s application status via email.

Determining Income Eligibility

Review the chart below to determine if your family’s adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than or equal to 200% of federal poverty guidelines (based on family size). In the event your AGI exceeds the 200% max, special circumstances such as military status/deployment, caring for elderly or sick relatives, incarcerated parent(s), or attending a Title I school may be taken into consideration to determine eligibility. Please contact program staff via email at ps@emilyk.org, or by phone (919) 680-0308 with questions.

*For households with more than 8 individuals, add $11,000 for each additional person. Source: aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines 

Note: Please only click "Save" if you do not plan to complete the application in one sitting. After entering your answers, simply click "Next" to proceed to the next page.

Note: Please only click "Save" if you do not plan to complete the application in one sitting. After entering your answers, simply click "Next" to proceed to the next page.

Note: Please only click "Save" if you do not plan to complete the application in one sitting. After entering your answers, simply click "Next" to proceed to the next page.

Note: Please only click "Save" if you do not plan to complete the application in one sitting. After entering your answers, simply click "Next" to proceed to the next page.

The Pioneer Scholars program requires a strong commitment on the part of our students’ families. Students must be able to attend the program after school on assigned days according to their grade level from 4:00-5:30 p.m. and families must provide transportation to and from the Center as transportation is not provided.

By signing below, I confirm that the information provided on this form and on the questionnaire is accurate and complete. I am also giving permission for staff to contact my student’s teacher(s) for grades and recommendations.

In addition to a completed application, all applicants must submit:

• A copy of the student's most recent report card showing grades and attendance information.
• A copy of the student's final report card from the previous year showing grades and attendance for all four quarters.

Note: Please only click "Save" if you do not plan to complete the application in one sitting. After entering your answers, simply click "Next" to proceed to the next page.