academics / staff

Centenary Summer Scholars gives rising 8th–12th grade students the opportunity to immerse themselves in one course of study for a full week. Students may sign up for multiple sessions,choosing a different course each session; students may also benefit from multiple weeks in the same course.

Each curriculum is designed around student involvement. Teachers incorporate student needs and interest into the lessons. Each class becomes a unique exploration. All courses are hands-on and project-based. In all courses, students collaborate, critique, project plan and present.

As our program continues to mature, our student feedback has been incorporated to maximize academic achievement and socialization factors for each student. We have gone to great lengths to ensure every course is fun, rewarding, intensive, hands-on… and just plain awesome.

PROGRAM STAFF – Snapshots

Program Director – Nicholas Selan

Nick Selan will be coming back for his 5th year with Centenary Summer Scholars, Nick has been working with various summer camps since 2004. He has taught the Forensic Science class for many years, but started out teaching Astronomy which led to his camp nick name “Nick Star”. After Earning a Masters’ degree in physics from Miami University (Ohio), he spent time doing research and teaching at the college level. He now teaches physics in a high school outside Atlanta, Georgia, and is looking forward to another summer in Hackettstown.

Resident Life Director – Sarina Lentini

Sarina Lentini went to school at Centenary College and graduated with a BA in Criminal Justice. Sarina is starting her Masters degree of Social Work in the fall at Columbia University in New York City. She has been working with Summer Scholars for four years now and have worn many hats, but currently will be taking on the role of the Resident Life Director and could not be more excited about it. She has been looking forward to planning some new evening events that will definitely make this summer the most memorable!

Writing – Tara Andreas

Tara is thrilled to spend her second summer teaching creative writing at CSS. While growing up on Long Island she spent many summers at different camps, and it has been her dream to pass on that wonderful camp experience to others. She currently lives in and teaches high school English in New York City. She considers herself a lifelong poet, Zumba enthusiast, and explorer of all things NYC. She holds a Masters in Secondary English Education from NYU, where she also received her Bachelors in English and Creative Writing.

Writing – Brett Shanley

Brett is a journalist and adjunct English professor at Pace University’s NYC campus. Now on his third year as co-Creative Writing instructor with CSS, he has been known to draw cartoons on the whiteboard in class and stay active in student activities after it. The Northern California native is excited to work with CSS students to create great writing!

Fashion Design – Liz Hartman

Parsons graduate and Pennsylvania native Liz Hartman started sewing dresses for her dolls in the third grade, and has been an avid fashion enthusiast ever since. Through high school Liz took fashion and sewing classes, ending with a charity fashion show as her senior project. During her studies at Parsons Liz pursued a variety of experiences in the fashion industry- design and pattern making internships, covering shows for a popular blog at Lincoln center during New York Fashion Week, and producing her own thesis fashion show at a gallery in the Lower East Side. Now she is so excited to teach at the Centenary Summer Scholars camp!