The goal of the six-week Summer Institute is to prepare students for their entrance into rigorous high school environments. Summer Institute classes provide a strong academic foundation for future success.
Students take core academic classes in Math (Algebra & Geometry), Writing & Literature, Latin, Science, Research & Study Skills, and Current Events. Co-curricular classes such as Drama, Dance, Art, and African Drumming are also offered.
First year Fellows also attend a weekly High School Placement workshop to prepare them for the demanding high school admissions process they face throughout the fall and winter of the eighth grade. Second year Fellows take a High School Issues class focused on preparing the students for their new high schools by addressing issues including time management, peer pressure, and decision-making.
TEAK believes that learning outside of the classroom is also important. For this reason, Fellows take weekly field trips to different cultural and professional institutions. TEAK also invites professionals and artists to share their experiences through a weekly speaker series and an arts series.
Summer Institute Speakers (1999-2009):
2009
Walter Grandberry – Classical Pianist; Director of Education & Outreach, Harlem School for the Arts
David Isay – Founder, Sound Portraits Productions; Author, Our America; MacArthur Genius Award winner
Robert Jackson – NYC Council Member
Sonia Manzano – Actor, "Maria" on Sesame Street
Dr. Florencia Polite – Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, New York University
Irene Tse – Managing Director, Duquesne Capital Management
2008
Jon Colman – Chief Financial Officer, Down Syndrome Society
Carl E. Meachum – Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Richard Parsons – Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner
Jason Samuel Smith – Dancer & Choreographer
Soulja – Inspirational Speaker
2007
Asiko Afrobeat Ensemble – Musicians
Dr. Keith Benkov – Chief, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Malcolm Gladwell – Author, Blink and The Tipping Point
Dr. Daniel Huber – University of Tampa Professor; Shark Expert
Jenny Lin – Pianist
Manhattan School of Music – Ensemble of Voice Majors
Amani Martin – HBO Producer
Nuttin' But Stringz – Violinists
Justin Rockefeller – Co-Founder & National Program Director, Generation Engage
2006
Dr. Marc Arkovitz – Pediatric Surgeon; Assistant Professor, Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian
Steve Cohen – Magician
Daze – Graffiti Artist
Harvard Sailing Team – Sketch Comedy Group
Kevin Jennings – Founder & Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
Robert S. Kaplan – Senior Director, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Love Heals – HIV/AIDS Education Organization
Tracy L. Nixon – President & Chief Executive Officer, King Cross Corporation
2005
Anne Akiko Meyers – Violinist
Fipp Avlon – Columnist, The Sun
Dr. Michael Bruno – Oceanic Engineer, Stevens Institute of Technology
Marysol Castro – ABC News Reporter
IllStyle & Peace Productions – Performance Group
Amanda "Diva" Seales – Performer/Radio Show Host
Steve Shaw – NYC Mayoral Candidate
Steven Tejada – Writer & Performer, Boogie Down Journeys – A One-Man Show
Preston Vineyard – Structural Engineer, PB Americas, Inc.
Owen West – Commodity Trader, Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Former Marine
Carol Weston – Author, Girltalk
2004
Dr. Eraka Bath – Child Psychologist
Cory Booker – Newark, NJ Mayor
Arcadia Caraballo – Yoga Instructor
Peter Daneker – Managing Director, Blue Ridge Capital
Kim S. Fennebresque – Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Cowen & Co., LLC
Joanne Fowler – Writer, People Magazine
Rodney Fuller – Executive Director, Art Start
Betsy Gotbaum – NYC Public Advocate
Dr. Stuart Haber – Infectious Disease Specialist, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers
Pierre Maman – Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase
Lindsay O'Reilly – Vice President, JPMorgan Chase
The Pearl Brunswick – Musical Improvisation Group
Donna Sotolongo – Psychologist
Susanna Spies – Comedian, Comedy Playground
William Wong – Engineer, Turner Construction
2003
Gil Blank – Photographer
Dr. Michael Carrera – Director, Adolescent Sexuality & Pregnancy Prevention Programs for The Children's Aid Society
David Dinkins – Former NYC Mayor
Basma Faris – Nutritionist, South Bronx Health Center for Children and Families
Steven Gerber – Attorney; Founder, Gerber & Samson LLC
Dr. Kathryn Ko – Neurosurgeon, Weill Cornell Medical College
Jacob Lief – Co-Founder, The Ubuntu Fund
Basil Smikle, Jr. – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Staffer
Gillian Segal – Photographer
Kiran Srinivas – Author. Brainteasers for Clever People
Vivek Mathew & Co. – Jazz Trio
2001
Jake Bright – Executive Office of the President, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Sandy Evans – Children's Book Author
Daniel Gross – Founder, PAX
Michael Maguire – Ad Designer
David Rohde – Reporter, New York Times
John Stossel – ABC News Anchor
Elizabeth Summerlin – Actress
Dara Torres – Olympic Swimmer
Amy Waldman – Co-Bureau Chief, New Delhi, New York Times
William Weld – Former Massachusetts Governor
2000
Damon Evans – Actor & Tenor
Laura Ljunkvist – Illustrator
John Bemelmans Marciano – Author, Madeline in America and Other Holiday Tales
Peter McBride – National Geographic Photographer
Larry Stamen – Magician
George Stephanopolous – NBC News Analyst; Former Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton
Seth Taras – Photographer
1999
Stacy Abramson – Executive Producer at Large, WNYC
Eric Garcetti – Los Angeles City Council Member
Jill Olson – Global Economics Instructor, The TEAK Fellowship; Associate Director, Tiger Management
Field Trips have included:
City Council & City Hall
Cooper Hewitt Museum
The Explorer's Club
Federal Reserve Bank
Food Bank for New York City
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
The Isamu Noguchi Museum
Manhattan District Attorney's Office
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Museum of Modern Art
NBA Business Offices
NBC Studios/Dateline
New York Stock Exchange The New York Times
United Nations
