A visit to VUnited.
One of the most important things we do at Orchard Friends is to prepare students for life after Orchard Friends. A visit to nearby Villanova University presented an exciting opportunity to build and practice skills–all while getting a first-hand look at a college program that could be a great fit for many of our students!
The VUnited Scholars Program is a two-year program for students with learning differences offered by nearby Villanova University. Like Orchard Friends, the VUnited curriculum places equal emphasis on academics, social and emotional learning, independent living skills, and workplace preparation. Students live in a residence hall on Villanova’s campus and typically
spend four days a week in the classroom and one day at an internship. The program includes access to peer and faculty mentors, tutors, and any other supports students might require.
After a parent of one of our current students told us about VUnited, we took a group of Orchard students to campus for a talk followed by a tour. We met the director of the program and several professors and sat in on a few classes, then joined two VUnited students for lunch. Our students were full of questions, with many considering a future at Villanova by the end of the day. As Jarmaine, a current TLP student, summed it up: “I liked going to Villanova. It showed me that maybe I’d like to go to college one day.
“Quote from current TLP student here”
