LEAP Gives High Schoolers Deep Dive into Arts, Humanities

Through a new pilot program, Pittsburgh students learn from CMU faculty and community artists and activists. Ian Oliver grew up a few miles from Carnegie Mellon University. "I've driven past CMU's campus a few times," said Oliver, a senior at City Charter High School in Pittsburgh. " Oliver is a participant in the pilot program LEAP, which stands for Leadership, Excellence, Access and Persistence. A collaboration between Carnegie Mellon's Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences , its College of Fine Arts , and City High, LEAP broadens access to the university's world-class resources in the humanities, social sciences and arts. Nico Slate , head of CMU's Department of History and LEAP faculty director, said that as the program evolves he and others hope to broaden participation to other city high schools. "While we hope some of the LEAP students come to CMU, our goal is to help empower these young people as students, artists, creators and leaders in our city," Slate said.