The morning sun greeted eager students as they arrived for their first day of camp in July. Some stepped onto the University of Georgia Tifton campus curious about healthcare. Others couldn’t wait to start building robots. All were excited to spend the week exploring new possibilities through hands-on learning.
For those 33 middle and high school students, the experience represented more than summer camp. It marked the launch of the Summer Academy Roadshow, a new initiative that brings UGA’s signature Summer Academy camps to communities across the state.
For the past 25 years, Summer Academy, run by the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, has inspired thousands of young learners to discover new interests and explore future careers through specialty science, technology, engineering, arts and math camps that combine interactive learning with career exploration.
Rather than asking students to travel to Athens, the Roadshow brings UGA’s educational experiences to them, expanding access to programs and pre-collegiate learning experiences.
“Summer Academy Roadshow gives students a chance to step inside careers firsthand while getting to experience the expertise and resources UGA has to offer,” said Kiel Norris, associate director of continuing education at the Georgia Center. “For a student in Tifton, that can be the moment they realize a future in medicine, engineering or robotics isn’t out of reach but it’s right here in their backyard.”
UGA’s Tifton campus was selected to help connect South Georgia students with the experiences and resources available through the university. Beyond expanding access, organizers hoped to introduce students to a college environment and help them see that pathways to higher education and high-demand careers are within reach.
“There are so many bright, talented young people in South Georgia, yet many don’t see themselves at UGA or other large universities,” said Barry Croom, professor and undergraduate program coordinator at UGA Tifton. “We want these programs to show them those opportunities are within reach. Just as importantly, we want students to recognize that the UGA Tifton campus can serve as a gateway to the University of Georgia.”
Learning beyond the classroom
During the week of camp, students explored healthcare and robotics, two career fields experiencing growing demand across Georgia.
The Mini-Medical School Summer Academy introduced students to careers in medicine through hands-on activities led by medical students from the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership. Campers explored anatomy, learned basic medical techniques and interacted with healthcare professionals at Southwell Hospital in Tifton.
Students traded textbooks for lab gloves and scalpels as they dissected pig hearts and sheep brains, bringing anatomy lessons to life. Experiences like these transformed classroom concepts into memorable discoveries while introducing them to careers dedicated to improving and saving lives.
“I think it is important to expose students to different aspects of medicine so they can see what it is really like to pursue a healthcare career,” said Madeline Derochers, current AU/UGA Medical Partnership student and Mini-Medical School director.
For Derochers, some of the most meaningful moments happened outside the lab. One student approached her seeking guidance about becoming a doctor.
“She shared with me that she wanted to pursue a career in medicine and wanted someone to guide her along that path,” Derochers said. “I wish someone had taken the time to talk with me about what all it would take to become a doctor.”
The robotics camp offered students a glimpse into the technologies shaping Georgia’s future workforce.
Participants built robots, explored drone technology and discovered how engineering is transforming industries including agriculture. They also tested an Action Trackchair, an innovative mobility device that helps people with disabilities navigate outdoor environments, demonstrating how technology can solve real-world challenges and improve quality of life.
Building Georgia’s future workforce
Programs like the medical and robotics camps not only introduce students to potential careers, but they also help address long-term workforce needs by exposing young people to professions that are increasingly important across Georgia.
That mission carries institutional weight, too. Jason Payton, community engagement professional with the UGA School of Medicine, said the school’s mission calls for advancing the health of Georgia’s communities by cultivating the next generation of physicians statewide.
“Bringing Mini-Medical School Summer Academy to Tifton reflects our commitment to developing a robust future healthcare workforce and to ensuring that a life-changing introduction to medicine is within reach for every young person in Georgia,” Payton said.
When asked if there was a moment when everything clicked, one mini-medical school student shared a memorable experience. As an aspiring OB-GYN, she was excited to see a placenta in the pathology department during the hospital visit. Later that day, a lullaby played over the hospital speakers announcing the birth of a baby. For her, it was a defining moment that turned a career goal into something tangible.
The Summer Academy Roadshow brought together expertise from across UGA and beyond, creating learning experiences that would not have been possible through a single organization alone.
“This is public service and outreach in action,” Norris said. “We’re partnering with communities and moving opportunities for students to explore and engage closer to home.”