For many young people who have experienced foster care, opportunities after high school can feel distant, unfamiliar or even unattainable.
The Embark Georgia Center’s Summer Precollegiate Program is designed to change that.
This summer, students from across Georgia spent six days living on college campuses, exploring career opportunities and connecting with peers who share similar life experiences. By the end of the week, many left with something more valuable than information about admissions or financial aid: they developed a stronger sense of belonging, greater confidence and a clearer vision for their future.
The Summer Precollegiate Program celebrated its 14th year in 2026. The program is offered through the Embark Georgia Center, a statewide initiative housed within the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development.
Embark Georgia Center works to improve educational outcomes for youth and young adults who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness. Through partnerships with technical colleges, universities, state agencies and community organizations, the center helps strengthen student support systems and increase college and training enrollment and graduation rates.
The Summer Precollegiate Program serves as an important first step in that mission by helping young people learn about postsecondary education before they graduate from high school. They leave equipped with knowledge about critical resources and people who can help them as they take the next step to enroll.
This year’s program spanned the campuses of UGA, North Georgia Technical College and the University of North Georgia. Students experienced daily campus life by living in residence halls, dining on campus and exploring what each campus has to offer. They also participated in industry tours, college preparation and application workshops, leadership development activities and presentations from admissions, financial aid and scholarship professionals.
For many participants, however, the experience provided more than a glimpse of college life; it offered an opportunity to connect with other youth, build a sense of belonging and see themselves as future students and leaders.
“All of us are in similar situations in life, and it was nice being around people that I could relate to,” said one participant. “The program helped me make connections and learn more about my options after high school.”
Thanks to the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation Child Wellbeing Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, all program expenses, including housing, meals, transportation, and activities, were provided at no cost to participants.
Since the program’s inception in 2011, nearly 500 high school students have participated, with 330 staying on UGA’s campus and an additional 145 experiencing other campuses around the state.
In a recent research study, 87% of participants reported an increased sense of belonging in college, and 89% said the program improved their understanding of college resources and support services.
For program coordinator Jason Bedgood, the most rewarding moments come when students begin to see new possibilities for themselves.
“For many of these students, this was the first time someone sat down with them and said here are the numerous options available to you and here is how to access them,” he said. “Through our partnerships across the state, participants had the chance to walk college campuses, meet local employers and begin to imagine a future they may never have seen for themselves. Watching that moment of possibility click for a young person is exactly why this work matters.”