WCU Celebrates 10 Years of iCamp ACADEMY with Largest Program in Its History
Expanded 2026 Academy Welcomes 60 Students, Launches New Digital Storytelling Track
West Chester University’s iCamp Academy is celebrating a major milestone in 2026: 10 years of empowering Philadelphia-area high school students through media production, mentorship, social justice exploration, and immersive college experiences.
Since its founding in 2016, iCamp has introduced students to the power of media while helping them find and amplify their own voices. This year’s academy marks the program’s largest and most ambitious year yet, welcoming 60 student participants — double the size of previous cohorts — thanks to a recent grant and partnership with PA GEAR UP. The expansion also brings participation from three new school districts.
Running June 21–27, 2026, iCamp offers rising high school juniors and seniors a free, weeklong residential experience on West Chester University’s campus. Students work alongside university faculty, media professionals, and college mentors while developing projects focused on issues impacting their communities.
“This is an exciting and deeply meaningful year for iCamp,” says Dr. Laquana Cooke, founding program director and faculty member in West Chester University’s Department of English. “For 10 years, we’ve watched students grow into confident storytellers, creators, and critical thinkers. Expanding the program allows us to reach even more young people and create even more opportunities for transformation through media and mentorship.”
A hallmark of iCamp is its focus on social justice and community storytelling. Students create original media projects inspired by issues they care about, while gaining hands-on experience in production, collaboration, and communication.
This year also introduces a new Digital Storytelling track, expanding the academy’s creative offerings and giving students additional tools to share personal narratives and community-centered stories through multimedia production.
Participants will explore a range of media disciplines including podcasting, video production, game design, journalism, and digital storytelling. Throughout the week, students live on campus, experience college life firsthand, and work closely with WCU student mentors and faculty experts.
“One of the most powerful aspects of iCamp is seeing students realize their stories matter,” Cooke adds. “They leave with technical skills, confidence, and a stronger sense of their own voice and future possibilities.”
The program culminates in a Final Exhibition and Launch Event on Saturday, June 27 at 1 p.m. in BPMC Room 101, where students will premiere and present their completed projects to family members, educators, community partners, and invited guests.
“We’re not just teaching media skills,” says Dr. Laquana Cooke, iCamp’s Founding Program Director and WCU English faculty member. “We’re giving students a chance to reflect, create, and speak out on the things that matter to them.”
Powered by Professionals and Peers
One of the things that makes iCamp unique is its faculty and student leadership model. Instruction is provided by working professionals and WCU faculty experts, as well as by WCU students or past students who act as student leaders. This year’s faculty included:
- Niger Miles, a New York-based filmmaker teaches video production
- Jeremy McCool, WCU professor and podcasting specialist teaches digital storytelling
- Dyan Neary, WCU associate professor teaches podcasting
- Randall Cream, a Digital Humanities professor teaches gaming
- Earl Hopkins, a journalist from The Philadelphia Inquirer teaches digital reporting
Each teaching artist is paired with a WCU student leadership staffer. These near-peer mentors support campers in everything from brainstorming their storyboards to navigating college life.
A Homegrown Pipeline of Talent
One of iCamp’s biggest success stories is its role as a mentorship and retention engine, not only for high school students but for WCU students as well. Many camp leaders started out as participants or student staffers and have continued to grow with the program.
Terrance Booker is a graduate of both iCamp ‘18 and WCU ’24. He is now a post-secondary coordinator at Mastery Charter School Lenfest Campus, and encourages his students to attend iCamp.
Booker says, “iCamp provides an incredible environment for students to learn, grow, and thrive. Being immersed for a week in the dynamic academic community at West Chester University inspires confidence, fuels ambition, and cultivates a lasting commitment to academic excellence."
The estimated value of the program is fully covered for all participants through community partnerships, grants, and University support.
For more information about iCamp, visit the West Chester University website or follow @icamp.wcupa on Instagram.
The expansion of iCamp in 2026 is supported in part through a partnership with Pennsylvania State GEAR UP, a federally funded college access initiative dedicated to increasing postsecondary enrollment and student success. GEAR UP — which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs — works to improve equitable college access and first-year persistence for students across Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State GEAR UP grant was awarded to Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on behalf of the state system and is administered through Shippensburg University. Through this partnership, iCamp is able to expand its reach to additional school districts and provide more students with immersive college and creative learning experiences.
For more information, visit https://www.wcupa.edu/arts-humanities/communicationStudies/iCamp/ or follow @icamp.wcupa on Instagram.