Honors and Enrichment Learning Opportunities
| Boys State | Georgia Boys State is a comprehensive one week course in state and local government and is a program of the American Legion Department Of Georgia.
It is a “leadership action program” where qualified male high school rising seniors take part in a practical government course. It is designed to develop a working knowledge of the structure of government and to impress upon the citizen the fact that our government is just what we make it. Along the way delegates have the opportunity to learn the political process by organizing a mythical 51st state. Each level of government is run by those delegates who are elected to serve. Instruction is presented on the law and court system, parliamentary procedure and Georgia political history. Please contact your local American Legion Post or your Guidance Counselor for more information. |
| CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp | CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp (DDC) is an interdisciplinary educational program organized by the CDC Museum. DDC reflects the museum’s mission of educating the public about CDC’s work. This academic day camp is held at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Admission is open to high-school students during the summer before their junior or senior years. Over the course of five days, campers are immersed in the diverse field of public health. Topics vary year to year, but may include: public health interventions, global health, infectious disease, chronic disease, injury prevention, data analysis, surveys, school wellness programs, violence prevention, environmental health, emergency preparedness, outbreaks, scientific communication, laboratory technology, disease surveillance, epidemiology, and public health law. Camp is a fast paced, academically demanding program. Participants are expected to fully immerse themselves, work together, and become a diverse team of disease detectives! |
| Carnegie Mellon Summer Programs for Diversity | Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers a selection of prestigious Summer Programs for Diversity for students ages 16-18. The programs include the AP / EA (Advanced Placement / Early Action—students in this program receive college credit), Architecture, Art, Design, Drama, Music, and the National High School Game Academy. Admission is very competitive, and there is no tuition, housing, or dining fees for students who are selected to attend the Summer Programs for Diversity. |
| Carnegie Mellon University Summer Academy for Math and Science | This program, often called SAMS, was specifically created for incoming high school juniors and seniors who are interested in math, engineering or science. It’s a six-week program at Carnegie Mellon University with courses that get students comfortable in a college environment while they live on campus. You can choose between noncredit and credit courses. The program was created with minority students and students from low socioeconomic families in mind. Cost: Free. Students do not need to pay tuition, but they are expected to pay for textbooks, supplies, transportation and recreational activities, but courses, room and board and food are covered. |
| Clemson University Summer Scholars Program |
Join us for an exciting week filled with learning, friendship, and the Clemson experience. Educational, recreational, and cultural activities allow participants to experience some of the amazing opportunities Clemson University has to offer. Students will engage in hands-on, immersive courses in their field of choice taught by Clemson instructors during the day. Afternoons include free time which can be spent exploring campus, attending a campus tour, or meeting a representative from Admissions or Calhoun Honors College. Evenings feature many of the recreational activities Clemson students enjoy, including bowling at The Underground, swimming at Fike Recreation Center, and a cookout on the beach at beautiful Lake Hartwell. Participants stay in a residence hall and eat meals in a dining hall throughout the week to complete their on-campus experience. Current Clemson students serve as counselors to guide, mentor, and answer questions about life as a Tiger. Rising 7th-12th grade students up to age 17 will enjoy this one-week introduction to college subjects while being immersed in the culture of Clemson University. If you have attended this program in the past, join us once again for a new course! We encourage you to view the 2019 CU Summer Scholars program schedule. |
| Colorado State University Summer Programs | Colorado State University offers two different summer programs for minorities. One is called the Black Issues Forum, and its purpose is to help students work on their written and oral communication skills, as well as enhance their leadership abilities. Students will interact with professors and current students and discuss important issues that African American communities face on all levels. If students take the course “Blacks in Higher Education,” they will receive one college credit. The other program is the Native Education Forum, a six-day program for rising high school juniors and seniors. Students get college classroom experience, research critical Native American/indigenous community issues, earn one academic credit and work closely with professionals to learn more about college applications. Both programs are for rising high school sophomores and juniors. Cost: Free. Students only need to pay for textbooks, supplies, transportation and recreation. |
| Duke TIP Summer Studies | Duke University’s TIP Academy for Summer Studies provides students with an academic and social experience so that they are able to experience both challenging coursework and build lasting friendships with other academically gifted students. The program is available to the top five percent of students within a grade level and all courses were developed with gifted students in mind. Only students within grades 7-10 are eligible for the academy. The summer studies take place at various sites including Rice University, University of Georgia, Wake Forest University and Duke University. |
| Emory Pre-College Program | The Emory Pre-College Program is a summer academic program for high school students. It gives college-bound rising juniors and rising seniors an exciting glimpse of academic and residential life at a top-ranked national university. High school students may explore topics with professors who are the leading experts in their fields, enroll in classes with college students, and earn transferable college credit. Two-week noncredit courses and three-week noncredit institutes are available. Students wishing to earn credit alongside Emory undergraduates will enroll in a six-week course through the Emory Summer College for High School Students. Emory Pre-College students enrolled in non-credit courses live together in a residence hall on campus or within commuting distance with their families and participate in a variety of programs, activities, and excursions designed to prepare them for college life. |
| Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program | Our Summer Immersion Program is a free 7-week introductory computer science program for 10th-11th grade girls going into their junior or senior year of high school. During the 7-week program, participants learn about computer science, gain exposure to tech jobs, and join a sisterhood of girls who are using computer science to become change-makers. |
| Honors Mentorship | The Honors Mentorship Program is a yearlong class for high achieving, intellectually gifted or artistically talented 11thand 12th grade students with a history of academic rigor who desire a challenging, enriching, career-based opportunity. The program gives motivated, mature high school students from all six Hall County high schools a career mentorship designed around the individual student’s interest in a specific field or career. Each selected participant is matched with a professional who serves as his or her mentor by providing a real-life career experience along with the latest information and technology in the field. This class is for the unique individual who has a passion for a profession and who is ready to move into a career experience outside the classroom. Rising 11th grade and 12th grade students apply in the spring for the following year. |
| Youth Leadership Hall | Youth Leadership Hall (YLH) is a leadership development program that informs, motivates and increases the awareness of selected high school juniors and seniors through interaction with community leaders. The program is an investment in the community’s future leadership. It is our goal to build individual leadership skills, foster positive group dynamics and increase civic and community involvement while creating youth development and youth leadership. |
| Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) | The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) is a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school students who will be rising juniors and seniors during the program. The program offers instruction that is significantly different from the typical high school classroom and that is designed to provide students with academic, cultural, and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators, and leaders.
GHP is held in mid-summer (mid-June to mid-July) as a residential educational experience on a college or university campus. Students attend classes in the mornings and afternoons in specific areas of study, and they participate in a wide variety of social and instructional opportunities every evening. Meals and rooms are provided by the program with the only required and expected costs to the students being travel expenses to and from the interviews, a few basic supplies for classes and dorm rooms, and spending money as desired during the program. |
| Georgia Certificate of Merit | The Georgia Certificate of Merit program is coordinated by The University of Georgia to recognize top junior students in Georgia high schools. The Georgia Certificate of Merit is awarded to students in recognition of outstanding scholastic achievement throughout the first three years of high school by ranking in the top five percent of each high school’s junior class. |
| Georgia Scholar Program | Through the Georgia Scholar program, the Department identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life. The program is coordinated by the Department’s Excellence Recognition Office and through local coordinators in each public school system and in private schools throughout the state. Each Georgia Scholar receives a seal for his or her diploma.Students eligible for Georgia Scholar recognition are high school seniors who exhibit excellence in all phases of school life, in community activities, and in the home. Georgia Scholars are students who have carried exemplary course loads during the four years of high school; who performed excellently in all courses; who successfully participated in interscholastic events at their schools and in their communities; and who have assumed active roles in extracurricular activities sponsored by their schools. The recognition is open to any student who qualifies. Students need to speak to their counselor about getting an application. If a counselor, home school instructor, or district coordinator wants to be added to the distribution list they should contact DOE. |
| Georgia State University Catch Them Young Program | Welcome to CATCH THEM YOUNG, a free research immersion and mentorship program for high school juniors and seniors in the renowned laboratories of the Petit Science Center at Georgia State University. |
| Mathcamp | Mathcamp is an intensive 5-week-long summer program for mathematically talented high school students. More than just a summer camp, Mathcamp is a vibrant community, made up of a wide variety of people who share a common love of learning and passion for mathematics. At Mathcamp, students can explore undergraduate and even graduate-level topics while building problem-solving skills that will help them in any field they choose to study. |
| Medical Opportunities for High School Students Blog | Excerpt from the blog: There are lots of ways to get a taste of it’s like to work in medicine. In my opinion, the best time to do this is over the summer. You have the most free time during the summer, and there are more experiences available. There are many summer medical programs and summer medical internships for high school students across the country. These opportunities range from research experiences to in-hospital experiences. Some of these programs and internships charge you a fee to attend, some are paid for, and some even pay you to attend. I’ve compiled a list of over 50 summer medical programs for high school students. Several of these programs and internships are just for students from a specific state or area. Check specific programs for application requirements and fees. |
| MIT MITES Program | Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) is a rigorous six-week residential academic enrichment program for rising high school seniors – many of whom come from underrepresented or underserved communities – who have a strong academic record and are interested in studying and exploring careers in science and engineering. This national program stresses the value and reward of pursuing advanced technical degrees and careers while developing the skills necessary to achieve success in science and engineering. |
| National Youth Science Camp | The National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) is a residential science education program for young STEM enthusiasts the summer after they graduate from high school. Students from around the country (two are selected to represent each state and Washington, D.C.) are challenged academically in exciting lectures and hands-on studies, and have voluntary opportunities to participate in an outdoor adventure program, gain a new and deep appreciation for the great outdoors, and establish friendships that last a lifetime. |
| Pre-College Programs |
Many colleges, including all of the Ivies, offer pre-college summer programs for high school students. These programs are intended to give younger students a taste of college life not only in terms of academics, but also with regard to living in a dorm, having more autonomy, and experiencing college towns and cities. Participation a summer program at a given college neither ensures admission nor requires attendance at that school. Most pre-college programs don’t offer college credit for the courses you take, although some, such as PennSummer through the University of Pennsylvania and Berkeley Pre-Collegiate Program at the University of California at Berkeley, do offer this option.
Many of these programs tend to be expensive, but some have financial aid or in-state tuition options. Be sure to research these options thoroughly at the programs in which you are interested. Often, this information is available on the college or program website |
| Questbridge College Prep Scholar Program | Awards for College Prep Scholars may include:
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| SCAD Summer Programs | This summer, explore new avenues of artistic development and spark your imagination at The University for Creative Careers. SCAD offers summer programs for high school students of all ages to pursue art and design disciplines while working alongside peers from all over the world. With exceptional buildings, extensive equipment and inspirational settings, SCAD summer programs offer ideal opportunities for artists at all levels to create, learn and grow.
SCAD Rising Star Incoming high school seniors ready for a college experience benefit from the challenging and exciting atmosphere of SCAD Rising Star. Enrolling in two college-level classes and building professional portfolios, SCAD Rising Star participants benefit from all of the perks of being a SCAD student — from the vast creative environments to the renowned faculty. Summer Seminars SCAD Summer Seminars offer weeklong workshops for high school students who have completed their freshman, sophomore or junior years. Students gain valuable experience while developing their creativity through exciting art and design projects. |
| STAR Student | The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia’s highest-achieving high school seniors and the teachers most instrumental in their academic development. Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR program has honored more than 27,000 students. Every accredited high school in Georgia is eligible to participate in this preeminent student/teacher academic recognition. To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on any single test date of the SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average. Nominees’ SAT scores must be equal to or be higher than the SAT National Average scores on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing and Math sections. High school STAR Students are asked to name their STAR Teachers. High school STAR Students compete for system titles; and System STAR Students in turn compete for region-wide honors in the 12 STAR Regions. Region Winners are invited to Atlanta to compete for the state PAGE STAR scholarships and awards. STAR Teachers continue on with their STAR Students at every level of the program. |
| State Superintendent Student Advisory Board | State Superintendent Richard Woods seeks middle and high school students to serve on his Student Advisory Council. These students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom, along with other issues related to education, and will serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools. Members will also engage in community service projects to benefit Georgia students and schools. |
| Summer Activity Blog | What should high school students do during the summer? Read this blog to learn about the options. |
| Summer Program Finder | Summer Program Finder is a user-friendly search tool for finding pre-college programs and summer opportunities for high school students. |
| REACH Scholars | REACH Georgia was launched on February 6, 2012 at Georgia Institute of Technology with the announcement of AT&T being REACH’s first corporate partner with a donation of $250,000. The REACH Georgia Scholarship “rewards students for self-accountability, promotes parent involvement and provides motivation and support; all factors that we know are critical in student educational achievement,” said Governor Nathan Deal at the launch of the program. Today, REACH serves 134 school systems across Georgia and nearly 1,800 Scholars, committing over $22 million in scholarships. |
| Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP) | The Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP) is a free, six-week program for high school juniors. The program seeks students from all kinds of educational backgrounds who demonstrate intellectual curiosity and motivation. Students attend an academic seminar, as well as a public speaking program. High school sophomores may attend the Telluride Association Sophomore Seminar (TASS). This seminar focuses on one of four topics related to Black and ethnic students. Like TASP, the program is completely free. Applications for this program are typically due in January, but it is among the most prestigious summer programs available to high school students, so the early deadline is worth preparing for. |
| United States Senate Youth Program | The United States Senate Youth Program, established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. The 57th annual program will be held in Washington, D.C., from March 2 – 9, 2019. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity will spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, as well as participate in meetings with the president and a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided by The Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. |
| Washington Youth Tour | Once a year, Jackson EMC sends high school students from our service region to represent the co-op on the prestigious Washington Youth Tour. The trip brings together more than 1,800 outstanding high school students from across our nation for an incredible week in the nation’s capital to develop their leadership and team building skills further. The Washington Youth Tour (WYT) is sponsored nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and statewide by the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (GEMC). As Georgia’s oldest leadership program for teens, the Washington Youth Tour teaches high school students about U.S. history, government and the importance of public service. The tour was inspired by former president Lyndon B. Johnson who, in 1957, encouraged electric cooperatives to send youngsters to the nation’s capital where they could actually see what the flag represents. |
| HOBY | Founded in 1958, HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation. HOBY programs are conducted annually throughout the United States, serving local and international high school students. HOBY provides students, for whom most are selected by their schools, the opportunity to participate in unique leadership training, service-learning, and motivation-building experiences, beginning a lifelong dedication to improving the lives of others. Due to the selfless efforts of volunteers and the contributions of generous donors, more than 10,000 students participate in HOBY programs annually. |
| CEISMC Summer PEAKS |
P.E.A.K.S. (Programs for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in STEM) are hands-on, interactive learning experiences. Summer P.E.A.K.S. give participants the chance to enhance learning during the summer in experiential activities on campus at Georgia Tech. P.E.A.K.S. cover many different Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts. The programs are one to two week-long day camps for students in rising 4th-12th grade. |
| University of North Georgia National Leadership Challenge Weekend |
Looking for one of the most memorable weekends of your life? Want a taste of the leadership development activities that you will experience as a Cadet at UNG? We’re looking for those students who want to find out more about themselves so they can more effectively lead others – both now and in the future. The Corps of Cadets is nationally recognized for its leadership development programs and hosts a National Leadership Challenge Weekend each semester.
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| University of North Georgia National Cyber Warrior Academy |
The National Cyber Warrior Academy (NCWA) GenCyber summer camp is a ten-day, residential cyber academy for area high school students at the University of North Georgia’s (UNG) Dahlonega Campus. The camp is scheduled for June 20-30, 2018.The mission of the NCWA is to inspire the next generation of cyber operations and cybersecurity professionals in the north Georgia region. Housed at The Military College of Georgia and one of six Senior Military Colleges in the nation, UNG’s NCWA GenCyber program will prepare students for military, federal service, and civilian cybersecurity career paths with an emphasis on personal, organizational, and national cybersecurity awareness and ethical cyber operations training in a 10-day, residential cyber camp. The academy includes 80 hours of instructional and extension activities, including 40 hours of hands-on labs in learner-centered classrooms using the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) iLabs curriculum. The standards-based content will reinforce Cybersecurity First Principles through hands-on exercises. In addition to lab exercises, students will participate in extension activities involving coding in Python, Sphero robotics, Drone programming, 3D printing, car hacking, and capture-the-flag and red-team/blue-team events. The mix of mini-lectures, hands-on labs, mid-day get-up-and-move extension activities, and evening team-building and CTF events will engage learners using multiple modalities. Daily scrum presentations, Q&A, and student presentations of various hacking exercises and Cyber First Principles concepts will help students take active ownership of their learning experiences.Physical fitness is part of the academy with students participating in daily athletics or moderate aerobic exercise and calisthenics. |
| University of Georgia Summer Academy Camps |
Summer Academy at UGA is an exciting series of specialty summer camps in Athens for middle school and high school students who want to do amazing things. Whether you dream about becoming a film director, doctor, scientist or artist, we have a summer camp just right for you! |
| University of North Georgia Programs for High School Students | The University of North Georgia offers a variety of programs for high school students. You may take college courses on any of our campuses. There are programs that allow you to learn about UNG. There are summer foreign language programs if you are interested in learning critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian.
And there’s more… Foreign Language Competitions: For over 38 years hundreds of high school students and their teachers have participated in University of North Georgia’s “Annual Modern Language Day Competition”. Find out how you can compete. Science Olympiad: For over 10 years, the University of North Georgia has supported the national Science Olympiad |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Engineering Program | The engineering program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was designed specifically for incoming high school juniors and seniors, young women and minority students who are interested in technology fields like math, physics, chemistry, engineering and technical communications. It’s a six-week program during which students will live on campus and do college-level courses, industry-site visits, field trips, guest lectures, workshops and faculty mentoring. The course load is challenging but extremely rewarding, and there is a strong chance students who complete the program will be accepted into the university. Cost: Free. This program is fully funded and students only need to pay for transportation. |
| Virginia Tech Programs for Students | Virginia Tech is committed to diversity among our student body. To achieve this goal, we are offering several programs focused on building student populations from different backgrounds. Black College Institute The Black College Institute is a 5-day academic summer enrichment program inviting talented, high achieving and intellectually curious rising high school juniors and seniors from Virginia and abroad. website | STEMability Fun and engaging summer camps to serve, train, empower, and mentor high school students with disabilities while exposing them to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. website |
