School may be out for summer, but for two of Tammy Seymour’s students this means it’s time to pack their bags and travel to the Rochester Institute of Technology to attend a summer program.

A teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing at Oswego County BOCES, Seymour’s students, Charlene Purchas (Mexico Academy and Central School District) and Heidi Brown (Sandy Creek Central School District), will be participating in programs offered by the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

Purchas will be attending the Explore Your Future (EYF) program at the university where she will join other college-bound deaf and hard of hearing students that just completed their 10th or 11th grade year of high school.

Starting July 14, Purchas will be immersed for six days in opportunities that foster personal growth as well as explore career options in art, business, computer science, and engineering. Activities and hands-on experiences will build career awareness while also helping to prepare her for a post-secondary education.

Heidi Brown will be attending the TechGirlz science, technology, engineering and math-themed camp at the university.

This is an all-girls program for students entering 7th, 8th or 9th grade in the September, Brown will be a 9th grade student in the fall.

Tuition cost for each student’s camp was offset through fundraising efforts and through the support of many local business and organization contributions including FX Caprara Pulaski, D.E. Buildings, Inc. Two Brothers’ in Sandy Creek, Mike Hess, Pulaski Lions Club, Sandy Pond Sportsman Club, Pulaski American Legion Post 358, Pulaski American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, Cable Trail VFW Lacona, Mexico Lion’s Club, and Mexico VFW.