On the University of Georgia’s Athens campus, teams of high school students raced to put the finishing touches on Shark Tank-style pitches imagining the “University of the Future.” Just days later, those same students stood aboard a UGA research vessel in the Skidaway River near Savannah, helping collect samples and learning how marine scientists study Georgia’s coastal ecosystems.

The experiences may have seemed worlds apart, but together they captured the mission of the Georgia Ready Summer Institute — to empower Georgia’s brightest students to think boldly, embrace discovery and explore how new ideas can create real-world impact.

This summer, UGA’s signature residential program for rising high school seniors reached a new milestone, drawing a record-setting 664 applications, more than tripling the number received the previous year. The institute welcomed 50 students from 44 high schools and 30 counties across Georgia, creating a cohort united by academic achievement, curiosity and a desire to make a difference.

“We see GRSI as an investment in Georgia’s future and in yours,” said Bethany Bagwell, director of UGA’s Office of Academic and Community Engagement, during the program’s welcome dinner. Her challenge was simple: remain curious, ask bold questions and embrace the opportunity to learn from new experiences and perspectives.

Throughout the week, students immersed themselves in programming focused on research, leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and design thinking. They met faculty researchers, learned about undergraduate research opportunities, connected with current UGA students and took part in workshops built around critical thinking, communication and collaboration.

Building confidence through connections

For many students, the relationships they built proved just as important as the academic experiences themselves.

A mentor luncheon connected participants with professionals from a wide range of industries, giving them a chance to explore career paths, ask questions and receive guidance from experienced mentors.

For Ella Rodeffer of Charlton County High School, those connections became one of the week’s most meaningful takeaways.

“Meeting mentors and professionals who shared their experiences helped me think more confidently about my own future,” Rodeffer said. “The relationships I built throughout the week showed me the value of networking and gave me confidence to pursue new opportunities.”

Rodeffer said the program pushed her beyond her comfort zone while helping her develop leadership skills, confidence and lasting friendships.

“GRSI challenged me to grow as a leader and gain confidence in myself,” she said. “I would recommend this program to any high school student looking to prepare for college, build connections and create unforgettable memories.”

Beyond the classroom, students bonded over a campus scavenger hunt, a bowling night and karaoke in the evenings, building a sense of community that carried through the entire week.

Reimagining the university of the future

One highlight of the institute was the Innovation and Design Thinking Workshop, led by Donald Chambers, associate director and senior lecturer in the Terry College of Business Entrepreneurship Program.

Divided into teams, students were challenged to answer a deceptively simple question: What should the university of the future look like?

Over two days, participants brainstormed ideas, stress-tested their assumptions and refined their proposals before presenting them in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition. Teams envisioned universities built around more experiential learning, including internships, project-based coursework and stronger ties to industry. Others pitched how immersive technology, such as virtual reality, could reshape how students learn.

Throughout the process, Chambers, known to students as “Coach Don,” moved between groups offering encouragement, feedback and practical advice.

More than a competition, the exercise pushed students to collaborate, think creatively and design solutions with an eye toward where higher education and the workforce are headed.

Bringing research to life on Georgia’s coast

While the entrepreneurship workshop challenged students to imagine the future, a trip to the Georgia coast showed them how UGA researchers and marine educators are working to solve real challenges today.

Students traveled to the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium for a firsthand look at how research, education and public service come together to support Georgia’s coastal communities.

The facility is part of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, which works directly with communities to connect university knowledge and resources with local needs.

For many, the highlight was boarding the research vessel Sea Dawg for a trawl in the Skidaway River. As researchers demonstrated field collection techniques, students saw how scientists gather the data used to understand coastal ecosystems and to inform decisions affecting fisheries, businesses and communities across the region.

Back on shore, students toured the Marine Education Center and Aquarium and explored marine life at the facility’s touch tanks. In the plankton laboratory, they peered through microscopes at the organisms that anchor marine food webs, gaining a close-up look at the scientific process from field collection to laboratory discovery.

Students learned about the many ways UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant uses research and education to promote stewardship of coastal resources, support economic development and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities.

Investing in Georgia’s future

From pitching ideas for the university of the future to examining plankton under a microscope, GRSI students spent the week seeing themselves not just as learners, but as future leaders, innovators and problem-solvers. They also got a preview of the role they could play in shaping what comes next.

The Georgia Ready Summer Institute is offered at no cost to participants and includes housing in campus residence halls, meals in UGA’s award-winning dining facilities and a full schedule of academic and leadership development activities. The program is a collaborative effort involving offices and units across the university committed to student success and academic excellence.

For more information about the Georgia Ready Summer Institute or future application cycles, contact the Office of Academic and Community Engagement at [email protected] or visit ace.uga.edu.