The Samford University Office of Admission gave several dozen high school guidance counselors an up –close-and-personal look at the university this week. The 26 counselors came from nine states for Samford’s first-ever Counselor Fly-in April 18-20.

The Samford Showcase schedule included campus tours, class visits, sessions led by each of Samford’s academic schools, and presentations on financial aid, scholarships and student life. Counselors also learned about Samford’s special academic enrichment opportunities such as University Fellows, career development, mentoring programs, pre-law and pre-medicine programs, and the Great Ideas Summer Institute.

Participants also enjoyed dinner with Drs. Andrew and Jeanna Westmoreland at the president’s home, and could tour the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and attend a Samford home baseball game against the University of Alabama. In a hometown “meet and greet,” the counselors visited with current Samford students from their area.

“We could not have had a better group of high school counselors join us for our first Samford Showcase,” said associate director of admission Elizabeth Primm, adding that all seemed to enjoy  experiencing Samford through first hand interaction with students, faculty and staff.

 “Our hope is that this program will help us nurture existing relationships with high school guidance counselors and reach out to new territories,” she said.

Participants hailed from Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. Florida and Texas tied for the top head count with five counselors from each state attending.