By Cara Spilsbury
This summer, Armani Cannon is getting a head start on a college education. This fall, he'll head back to elementary school.
Armani, 10, is taking part in Northern Essex Community College's College For Kids summer program.
The children enjoy enrichment classes on the college's Haverhill campus in subjects including digital photography, archaeology, story writing and painting. In all, 67 classes are offered throughout the four-week program.
Armani spent last week in the talent show class, in which students planned and performed songs, dances, tricks and skits.
"It's great being here because you can be yourself and express yourself," Armani said. "You get to learn all sorts of different things."
His classmates at NECC this summer share his passion for the program.
"It's really a great experience," said Maggie Budzyna, 8, of Newburyport. "We're doing stuff that we won't get to do for a while."
Eager students have come to College For Kids from 10 area towns, including 20 students from Lawrence.
Students can choose to attend all four weeks of the program, one week of classes or just one class that intrigues them. There is an Arts Alive program for children ages 6 through 8, College For Kids junior for children ages 9 through 11 and College for Kids senior for students ages 12 through 14.
"We want to get kids onto the campus to see what's exciting about it," said Deirdre Budzyna, director of the College For Kids and a professor of early childhood education at NECC.
Most of the teachers at the College For Kids are public school teachers from the area or people from the community with a special expertise in a particular subject.
Budzyna said for many teachers, it is refreshing to work with a class of no more than 15 students who are all eager to learn and enthusiastic about the subject matter.
"It's really cool," said Nick Bushnell, 11, of Newburyport. "I've been here all four weeks and I love it. It's cool being in the college rooms and the science labs."
"It's been fun," agreed Jakob Guadalupe, 10, of Bradford. "I've been taking classes I don't usually get to take. Basketball has been really fun."
