Christian Brothers Academy eighth grader Emily Ball was recently accepted into the NDignite Connection character development and leadership program at Notre Dame.

An online enrichment program, NDignite Connection, helps high-achieving students navigate middle and high school, learn about various pre-college programs, and ultimately prepares for the admissions process at highly selective colleges and universities through using self-awareness to explore their gifts and talents.

Students may apply to the program at the end of their sixth or seventh grade year. Once participants enter into ninth and 10th grades, they matriculate into the second phase of the program where they connect with current Notre Dame students and engage in discussions with peers weekly about meaningful topics.

At the conclusion of a student’s participation in the NDignite Connection program, they will learn about life at a highly-selective university, the importance of finding the right college fit, the pre-college and college application processes, and how to use their greatest gifts to invest in the lives of others and in their professional careers.

Emily is the daughter of Larry and Dorothy Ball of Canastota.