The Catholic College Summer Program – Schola
The beauty and wonder of true leisure.
Love and Friendship
Schola is a week-long summer program for high school students; we will read classic works of philosophy and literature, engage in group discussions with Honors College faculty, and experience the local culture and recreation of the beautiful Charlotte, NC, region.
The Schola program primarily takes place on the Belmont Abbey College campus; we will also take excursions in the nearby area. Students will build friendships together, through conversations with peers and professors; enjoy time to relax, join in the daily prayer life on campus, and pursue outdoor activities. By the end of the week in our Belmont, NC Catholic college summer program, students will have grown in wisdom, critical thinking, and camaraderie.
UPCOMING DATES:
July 5-11, 2026
About the Schola Program: Our Catholic College Summer Program
High school students who will have completed one year of high school by summer 2026 can participate in our Catholic college summer program at Belmont Abbey College, located near Charlotte, NC. The program is open to in-state, out-of-state, and even international students.
In-Person Session
The total cost of our in-person session is $750. This includes room and board on campus, seminar sessions and discussions with our Honors College faculty, and cultural and recreational activities during the week. Belmont Abbey College does not cover travel costs.
In-person session: July 5-11, 2026
If you are interested in getting more information about our Catholic college summer program, be sure to reach out to Mrs. Elisa Torres-Neff or contact our institution to learn more!
Mrs. Elisa Torres-Neff
elisatorres@bac.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Schola is an immersive program for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school to preview the Honors College experience: enjoying the life of body, mind, and soul that makes Belmont Abbey’s Honors College a place of lasting friendships and profound formation. If you are a high school student who has completed freshman year and you’re interested in exploring the Great Books, gathering with friends around a bonfire, and hitting the white water… come experience Schola!
Schola takes place on the vibrant Belmont Abbey College campus, 20 minutes outside Charlotte, NC. Students stay in single-sex dormitories, which are off-limits to the opposite sex 24/7. If you and a friend are attending Schola together and would like to be roommates, you’ll receive the link to make this request after registration.
Yes, all registrants will receive a link to fill out dietary restrictions so that we can make sure to provide for all attendees. Attendees eat most of their meals in our newly renovated dining hall.
Students flying in can request an airport shuttle using the link you’ll receive after registration. We make every effort to accommodate students who arrive at least by 4:00pm on Sunday. The following Saturday, we also coordinate up to two airport shuttles in the early afternoon.
As a Benedictine institution, we love extending hospitality and welcoming new people to campus! Students arrive between 2:00 and 4:00 pm and have a chance to settle in before the Family BBQ for all attendees, parents, and siblings on Sunday evening.
In addition to clothing for the week, including business casual options for seminars and any spiritual activities such as Mass or vespers, you’ll need personal toiletries, plus a towel and washcloth. You should also bring bed linens, blankets, and pillows. Don’t forget sunscreen, a water bottle, and money for two off-campus dinners during the week’s adventures! Other items are optional, but if you play a musical instrument, keep in mind there will be opportunities to showcase your talent!
While you are welcome to bring your cell phone to facilitate travel arrangements or in case of emergencies, we encourage you to embrace the Schola experience by being fully present and disconnecting from electronic devices as much as possible. In addition, all electronic devices must remain outside the seminar room!
In the weeks leading up to Schola, you will receive a packet with the readings you’ll explore during your seminars. To make sure you’re ready to participate in seminars and enjoy the conversation, you should plan to complete these before arriving on campus.
Belmont Abbey’s campus police are on-call 24/7 at (704) 400-6200.
Yes! Schola gives a vivid snapshot of life in the Honors College, but no matter where you plan to attend college, the seminars and conversations throughout Schola will hone your critical thinking, your intellectual curiosity, and your capacity to engage with others in the timeless questions of our culture and existence. In addition to preparing you for some of the joys and challenges of college life – especially in a classical, liberal arts setting – Schola offers a weeklong exploration of the good life!
Come join a community of students seeking the Truth, Goodness, and Beauty that enrich and strengthen our understandings and friendships. Come discuss, explore, and embrace what it means to thrive as a whole, human person, accompanied by Belmont Abbey’s exceptional Honors professors. We look forward to welcoming you to campus!
Including summer programs like Schola on your college application can certainly show your interest in and aptitude for Great Books programs and classical education. To an even greater degree, however, it demonstrates your love of learning and your willingness to explore and develop this passion outside of the classroom. It shows you to be a lifelong learner who knows how to build friendships and to thrive in an academic community.
While there are many excellent virtual summer programs, in the end nothing can replace the profoundly human experience of gathering in person to share meals, delve into conversation, and embrace the adventure of true leisure. Come discover the difference: experience learning and camaraderie in a vibrant setting near Charlotte, NC!
We close registration the week prior.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer scholarships at this time, but we encourage students to fundraise, either through their school’s admission department or local parish community.
If you have questions about Schola, please contact Professor Elisa Torres-Neff at elisatorres@bac.edu.
A Look At
The Schola Experience
More About the Experience
The 2026 theme of our seminars is Love and Friendship!
In the past, our in-person program included activities like whitewater rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, hiking in the beautiful North Carolina Mountains, intramural sports, a talent show, and an excursion in the City of Charlotte. Students also participated in the spiritual life of the college, including daily Mass, Adoration, and prayer with the monks.
Reserve Your Spot for a Week of Fun and Adventures
At Belmont Abbey College, we seek and find God by living, praying, and working in the Charlotte community. While on our campus, you will foster a spiritual life that will be with you throughout your years here and beyond.
If you are interested in exploring your faith while creating connections with your peers, our Catholic College summer program near the beautiful City of Charlotte, North Carolina is perfect for you.
When it comes to payment, be sure to check out our available options. You can reserve your spot for $60, pay in full, or elect to use one of our payment plans. Full tuition is due by July 5. We look forward to welcoming you to our campus for a week full of learning, exploring, and celebrating our faith!
Contact Belmont Abbey About Our Belmont, NC Catholic College Summer Program
If you are interested in getting more information about our Catholic college summer program, be sure to reach out to Dr. Joseph Wysocki or contact our institution to learn more!
