Local singer-songwriter Jerry Mills addresses the Young Wildcat Scholars on Thursday at Jamrich Hall on the campus of Northern Michigan University. The program brings sixth-graders from charter schools throughout Michigan to NMU. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

MARQUETTE — Local singer-songwriter Jerry Mills asked for a show of hands on Thursday of how many Young Wildcat Scholars made their first trip over the Mackinac Bridge this week.

Many of those scholars raised their hands.

Although making the trip north was an important component of the Young Wildcat Scholars program, the sixth-graders in this year’s class gathered to experience the Northern Michigan University campus and other Marquette-area sights beginning on Wednesday.

Abby Cameron-Standerford, associate professor of education and director of the Graduate Learning Disabilities Program in NMU’s School of Education, Leadership and Public Service, said the Charter Schools Office at NMU charters nine such schools across Michigan — three in the U.P. and six in downstate urban areas.

Each year for the past 13 years, the Young Wildcat Scholars program brings sixth-graders from each of these schools to NMU for three days so they have an opportunity to experience campus life; attend classes taught by faculty, students and staff; and visit unique off-campus U.P. sites such as Black Rocks.

“When they’re in their classes, they’re in smaller groups, and we’ve mixed them up so they are with different schools,” Standerford said. “The students get a chance to know other students from other places.”

Standerford was co-director of the Young Wildcat Scholars program with Derek Anderson, an NMU education professor.

“We coordinate this program to kind of bridge our charter schools and Northern,” Anderson said.

Standerford said the youngsters stay in the campus dormitories, with one of the highlights eating in the Wildcat Den.

“I’m so excited that I got to go,” said Abigail Schmaltz of the East Shore Leadership Academy in Port Huron. “It was really fun.”

For her, the high point was visiting the DeVos Art Museum at NMU.

“It was really beautiful, all the drawings and stuff,” Schmaltz said.

Mills presented a musical inspirational program in Jamrich Hall on Thursday.

“The message is very much about perseverance and decisions and how as a young person, you have the power to make decisions and to chart your course,” Standerford said.

Before Mills’ program began, Anderson gave a shout-out to the students who sat in the rows closest to the stage.

“That’s very respectful of a performer when people sit towards the front,” he said.

Mills then welcomed the students, saying, “This is an opportunity for you to experience things, to experience what it’s like to go through university.”

He then explained the meaning of “mojo,” channeling author Marshall Goldsmith.

“The definition of mojo is the positive spirit toward what you’re doing right now that begins on the inside and radiates to the outside,” Mills said.

He even had the students repeat the definition.

That was followed by Mills singing acoustic songs with uplifting themes.

One song’s chorus addressed people being fearful of speaking in front of others:

“I can fly and so can you,

But are we ever going to?

Spread our wings. It’s going to be all right

Once we overcome our fear of flight.”

Another song was about things making sense.

“The older I grew, I started to see how things that didn’t make sense actually started to become the pieces to a puzzle,” Mills told the students.

So, he composed “Your Puzzle.”

In part, it said:

“Look inside and you will see

Your puzzle of ability.

Each piece of your puzzle is designed to fit

If you choose to assemble it.”

On the agenda for Friday were a presentation through the NMU Admissions Office about coming to college as well as a trip to Sugarloaf Mountain.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.