Phoenix Project Week 1: Building Character, Confidence, and Connection

Ten students from Northview Academy are spending part of their summer building character, developing leadership skills, and creating positive connections through a unique mentoring program led by Statesville Police Department School Resource Officers Shannon Finis and Dakota Brannon.

Northview Academy serves students in a specialized educational environment designed to support a variety of individual learning needs. Through the Phoenix Project, students are participating in experiences that encourage personal growth, teamwork, leadership, and service to others.

The Phoenix Project is a month-long summer camp organized by Officers Finis and Brannon in partnership with the Travis Manion Foundation's Character Does Matter program. The program helps students identify and develop character strengths that can help them navigate challenges, build relationships, and achieve success both in school and in life.

“One of our goals is to help these students recognize the strengths they already possess and show them how those strengths can become their superpowers,” said Officer Shannon Finis. “This program is about building confidence, character, and motivation while giving students positive experiences they can carry with them into the future.”

Throughout the camp, students participate in lessons and activities led by veterans and mentors from the Travis Manion Foundation. During the first week, students explored character strengths such as teamwork, perseverance, kindness, and bravery through team-building exercises and physical challenges.

A key contributor to the program is Chris Jacobson, a Travis Manion Foundation mentor based in Raleigh, who has helped organize and lead many of the camp’s activities.

“We want these students to leave camp knowing they are capable of great things,” said Officer Dakota Brannon. “Every activity, lesson, and service project is designed to help them recognize their strengths and build the confidence to be successful when they return to their schools and communities.”

In addition to classroom sessions, students will participate in several outdoor learning experiences, including challenge activities at The Beanstalk Journey, canoeing at Lake Norman State Park with park rangers, and a hiking adventure at Stone Mountain State Park.

Service to others is also a major component of the program. On June 25, students will complete a community service project benefiting veterans at Fifth Street Ministries Veterans Village. After visiting the site and meeting with project leaders, students began brainstorming ideas and planning how they can make a meaningful impact.

The students participating in the Phoenix Project were selected by Northview Academy staff and School Resource Officers. As participants prepare to transition back to their home schools, the camp is designed to equip them with tools, experiences, and confidence that will support their continued success both in the classroom and beyond.

At the conclusion of the program, students will receive certificates recognizing their participation, along with letters highlighting the skills and character strengths they developed throughout the month.

If the inaugural Phoenix Project proves successful, organizers hope to expand the opportunity and offer the program to future groups of students each summer.

“This program is really about investing in young people and helping them see their own potential,” said Finis. “When students understand their strengths and learn how to apply them in positive ways, they can accomplish incredible things.”

By investing in character, leadership, service, and mentorship, the Phoenix Project is helping students discover the strengths within themselves while creating experiences that can positively influence their futures for years to come.

Learn more about The Phoenix Program on our website here. To learn more about the Travis Manion Foundation's Character Does Matter program, visit the Travis Manion Foundation website here.