North Cross Boarding Program Provides Unique Opportunities for Two Wytheville and Pulaski Students

By Nicki Dabney
ROANOKE, Va. (July 28, 2020) — When North Cross School opened its boarding program in the fall of 2017, most of its residents were international students. Its lone domestic boarder was then-sophomore Solomon Crockett-Eans. 
 
A native of Wytheville, Virginia, Crockett-Eans transferred to North Cross with the goal of repeating his sophomore year to strengthen his college admission profile. Crockett-Eans was assigned to room with Euan Spikers, an international student from Australia who had been attracted to North Cross because of its football program. 
 
Director of the Dorm Stephen Alexander, who also coached Spikers and Crockett-Eans on the football team, noted the special bond that the two formed in the two years that they lived together: “Solomon spent a summer in Australia with Euan, and Euan still visits Solomon to this day.” 
 
When Spikers graduated, Crockett-Eans, having become well versed in interacting with students from different cultures, took on a new role in the dorm. “Solomon assumed the role of big brother for a number of international students and helped them better understand what normal American high school life is like. That’s the benefit on either side--being exposed to different cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives,” Alexander said.
 
“It is remarkable how easy it is for our domestic students to gain a global mindset without having to go very far,” Director of Residential Life Emma Kauffman said. “Having programming where you are interacting with other cultures, whether it’s Chinese New Year or sharing family traditions, there’s a curiosity that begins to be established in the mind of someone who has been so ingrained in their own little corner of the world,” Kauffman added.  
 
Crockett-Eans found a great sense of community in both the dorm and the football program, but equally important for him was the academic support he received through North Cross’s CrossWalk program.
 
“My academic experience was great. Going from a public school to a private school was a pretty big change for me, but I managed to adapt quickly and get better and grow as a person in the three years I was at North Cross. CrossWalk really helped me develop my writing skills. One thing I can take with me from North Cross is nothing is ever too hard to accomplish if you put your mind to it,” Crockett-Eans said.
 
Crockett-Eans graduated from North Cross this spring and will be attending Catawba College this fall where he will be playing football. 
 
Current Senior James Jackson, a native of Pulaski, Virginia, moved on dorm in 2018 when he transferred to North Cross as a sophomore. Like Crockett-Eans, Jackson planned to take advantage of North Cross’s academics to strengthen his college prospects. 
 
“James had his sights set on Princeton. He was a three-sport athlete and wasn’t particularly set on committing to any one sport, but he did realize that athletics was a big part of his path forward,” Alexander said. 
 
Jackson found tremendous success on the football field when he began working with assistant coach Shannon Taylor, who saw potential for Jackson to take his game to the next level. Over the past year and a half, Jackson worked hard to become a D1 recruit. Recently he gave verbal commitment to UVA after fielding offers from several competitive academic programs, including Columbia, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. 
 
While Crockett-Eans and Jackson found success in athletics, this is just one of the many paths that North Cross offers. 
 
“A student’s success at North Cross is two-fold. Whether it’s athletics or arts, you need to be involved in the extracurricular offerings North Cross has to get the full enriched experience. At the same time, the profile of the student who does best is one who prioritizes college admission and academic improvement,” Alexander explained. 
 
“Academically, you will be held to a high standard at North Cross. Athletically, you will be surrounded by great people who will have your best interest in mind. Life at North Cross was a lot different than what I was used to experiencing, and it challenged me and made me better,” Jackson said.
 
North Cross’s five-day boarding program allows students in southwest Virginia the opportunity to focus on academics without having to worry about commuting an hour or two to school every day. Meanwhile, parents are still close enough to attend special events like concerts, theater performances, and athletic competitions.
 
The prospect of adding more domestic boarders to the program is one that Alexander and Kauffman find very appealing. “It would create an opportunity for the dorm to be more connected with the community in ways that extend beyond the school day,” Kauffman said. 
 
Unique opportunities for domestic boarders extend beyond cross-cultural exchange. “We’re in the perfect place in a downtown environment with lots going on, but we are also surrounded by natural beauty that is great for exploration and to get students outside of themselves. Whether that external element comes from living with a roommate and learning how to be part of a community or not constantly seeking affirmation through online channels, there are so many opportunities for students to grow. North Cross prepares them academically, and the dorm prepares them in an additional life skills way. They learn how they interact in certain environments and start to understand why they react the way that they do. It prepares them for integration into a greater community. Regular domestic students don’t generally have these programming options. Here they have this whole other opportunity to explore more, whether that’s activities or relationships,” Kauffman added.
 
North Cross currently plans to welcome all students back to campus, five days a week, beginning on September 8. While most grades have reached capacity for the upcoming school year, spots remain available in grades eight through ten. Interested families are encouraged to contact the North Cross Admissions Office to explore opportunities for enrollment. North Cross is proud to provide Tailored Tuition, a need-based aid program that serves families who are concerned about affording the full tuition rate. 
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