His program enriches teachers as well as students

DURHAM -- Dan Kimberg has worn a quarter-size hole in the bottom of one of his brown leather oxfords trolling the sidewalks at Durham Academy.

Like an attentive party host, Kimberg makes a continual loop around one wing of the school, ensuring everything's in place for day two of Student U., a free summer enrichment program for middle-schoolers.

He heads to the parking lot to check on school bus arrivals. Walking down the stairs, he directs students to breakfast. Peeking into classrooms, he checks teachers' lessons for the day.

"Have a great class today, Montreal," he tells a sixth-grade boy.

"Be amazing today, Michelle," he says to a teacher.

"Jenny, you're remarkable," he tells an administrator during another round.

He finally stops for a moment, his blue eyes beaming as he watches students scurry to their first activity.

"This is a beautiful sight," he says.

Three years ago, Student U. was a seemingly far-fetched proposal that Kimberg, then 19, put together for a class at Duke University.

This summer the program for Durham public schoolers is in its second year and partners, including three Triangle universities, have entrusted more than $300,000 in the vision of a graduate who is now 22.

"I believe that every student is brilliant," says Kimberg, now the program's director. "It's only fair that every person have a chance to be the best version of themselves."

This summer, more than 100 middle-schoolers are participating in Student U. They'll spend six weeks with 32 college students who teach them such subjects as global politics, pre-algebra, nutrition and chess. They also take weekly field trips.

Among the lessons: It's cool to be smart, it's OK to dream big, and even one person can change the world.

Surveys from the first year show that the participants, who are grouped in small classes of five to seven students, have grown more confident about raising their hands in class and being able to graduate from high school.

Natalie Rivera, 12, says she was shy when she first came to Student U. last year.

The program brought her out of her shell. "It's made me feel more confident about participating more in my classes," she says. "It taught me better about some of my subjects in school."

A community effort

Kimberg is quick to say that he deserves little of the credit for bringing the program to reality.

"So many people have poured their hearts into Student U.," he says. "This is truly a program the community brought together."

The program unites five organizations -- the Durham Public Schools, the private Durham Academy, and UNC, Duke and N.C. Central universities.

The program also benefits college students and educators.

Students from the universities -- about half of whom intend to pursue teaching -- work long hours to get classroom experience. They lead four periods a day, plus activities after school, all for about $250 a week. They also pledge to mentor the middle-schoolers once a week during the academic year.

To observe these college-age teachers and hone their performance, career educators from the Durham Public Schools and participants in the national program Teach for America are in Student U. classrooms every day.

Other professionals also oversee the work. But at every level, participants say, what drives the program is Kimberg's devotion, generous spirit and ability to empower other people.

"People want to be around him," says Jenny Hinkle, a UNC-CH student who helps run Student U. "They feel valued."

He exudes a positive energy, friends say, and leads by example.