{"691423":{"#nid":"691423","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Summer Institute creates pathways to possibility","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBy Chloe Behan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA New Perspective\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Kelseigh Williams of Berrien County High School, the 2026 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/expandedlearning.ceismc.gatech.edu\/summer-institute\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Summer Institute (GTSI)\u003C\/a\u003E changed the way she viewed college life and community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the biggest things I learned is just that whenever I do get to college, it\u2019s not as intimidating as it seems,\u0022 she said. \u201cBeing from a small town myself and getting to experience Atlanta, which is way bigger than where I\u2019m from, it was just a great experience seeing that big towns aren\u2019t as scary as what they seem online.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWilliams was among 105 rising high school juniors representing 62 counties across Georgia who participated in GTSI this summer. Developed and hosted by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/expandedlearning.ceismc.gatech.edu\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EExpanded Learning Programs\u003C\/a\u003E in the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC), the weeklong residential program helps students prepare for the transition to college while exploring academic pathways and building connections with peers, faculty, and staff.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParticipants were selected from more than 200 nominations submitted by school districts across Georgia. Support from Georgia Tech allowed the program to be offered at no cost to students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVice Provost for Enrollment Management Rick Clark said the success of the program depends on strong partnerships with Georgia educators who identify students for these opportunities. \u201cWe all want the same thing, which is to develop talent and invest in the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers,\u0022 he said. \u0022GTSI is a group project, that only works when our partners\u2014superintendents, principals, counselors, and teachers in communities all around Georgia\u2014raise their hand to identify potential. Ultimately, talent is distributed broadly, but access to opportunity is not. And this is one effort we\u2019re making to solve that challenge.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAcademic Exploration\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the week, students experienced college life firsthand by navigating campus, attending sessions about admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and student life. They also participated in hands-on learning activities led by faculty and staff from Georgia Tech\u2019s College of Design, College of Engineering, College of Computing, College of Sciences, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and Scheller College of Business.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECase Johnson, who attends Hawkinsville High School in Pulaski County, said the experience reinforced a goal he has had for years. \u201cI\u2019ve wanted to attend Georgia Tech for some years now, but this whole experience has served to solidify my aspirations,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThough I\u0027ve had a lot of enjoyable moments, a couple of them that are most memorable for me would be the time that I was learning block coding in the computer science academic session, as well as the recreational activities I\u2019ve participated in with both my peers and group leaders,\u201d Johnson added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFuture Pathways\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond the classroom, students formed lasting friendships with fellow participants and Georgia Tech student group leaders while taking part in campus tours, team-building activities, and recreational events.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJaRyelle Mackey, a student at Charles R. Drew High School in Clayton County, said one of her favorite moments was participating in a chemistry lab that demonstrated how cockroaches use smells to navigate their environment. The experience also helped her gain a better understanding of the college application process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAnother thing I learned was that when applying to Georgia Tech, they really look at the things you give to your community and not just your academics,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor many students, especially those from rural and under-resourced communities, the experience provides a tangible opportunity to see that college and future career pathways are within reach.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat sense of confidence and self-discovery is at the core of the Georgia Tech Summer Institute and a key reason it was established in 2025. Collaboration among \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECEISMC\u003C\/a\u003E in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lifetimelearning.gatech.edu\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECollege of Lifetime Learning\u003C\/a\u003E, the Office of Strategic Student Access, and Georgia Tech\u2019s academic colleges makes this program possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Georgia Tech Summer Institute continues to expand access to educational opportunities for students across the state, working to combine immersive STEM experiences with practical college preparation,\u201d said Sirocus Barnes, director of Expanded Learning Programs. \u201cIt\u2019s more than an introduction to Georgia Tech. It provides participants with the knowledge, confidence, and support to begin envisioning their futures in higher education and STEM careers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERising high school juniors, nominated by their school districts, gained firsthand experience with college academics and campus life through a weeklong residential program. Designed to expand educational opportunity, the program helps students, particularly those from rural and under-resourced communities, build confidence and envision future pathways in higher education and STEM careers.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In its second year, Georgia Tech\u0027s Summer Institute brought 105 students from 62 Georgia counties to campus, expanding access to college preparation, STEM exploration, and future career pathways."}],"uid":"36247","created_gmt":"2026-08-03 20:21:20","changed_gmt":"2026-08-03 20:59:31","author":"jwalls37","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680769":{"id":"680769","type":"image","title":"2026 Georgia Tech Summer Institute ","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERising juniors, nominated by their school districts, participated in the 2026 Georgia Tech Summer Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1785788853","gmt_created":"2026-08-03 20:27:33","changed":"1785789003","gmt_changed":"2026-08-03 20:30:03","alt":"Image of the participants from the 2026 Georgia Tech Summer Institute.","file":{"fid":"265081","name":"2026-Georgia-Tech-Summer-Institute.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/03\/2026-Georgia-Tech-Summer-Institute.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/03\/2026-Georgia-Tech-Summer-Institute.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":720378,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/03\/2026-Georgia-Tech-Summer-Institute.jpg?itok=Q0BKoGtk"}}},"media_ids":["680769"],"groups":[{"id":"361651","name":"Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC)"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"411","name":"CEISMC"},{"id":"167487","name":"STEM education"},{"id":"193940","name":"college of lifetime learning"},{"id":"194316","name":"enrollment management"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}