College Visits During Summer Reach
Chattanooga, TN- During Summer Reach, students not only strengthen their skills in math and reading each day—they also have the opportunity to go on hands-on, educational field trips. This summer, the trips included visits to the Chickamauga Battlefield and the Chattanooga Public Library, giving students valuable opportunities to explore, connect, and learn in new environments.
Rising 8th and 9th graders also had the opportunity to tour the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College. For many, it was their first time visiting a college campus.
These visits are designed to introduce students to post-secondary options early in their academic journey. Students explored classrooms and campus facilities, learned about different academic and career pathways, and were able to imagine themselves potentially pursuing college or technical training.
“A lot of times, middle schoolers aren’t exposed to college or to what their next step might be after high school,” said Kaiya Walls, a UTC campus ambassador who led the tour for Red Bank Middle School students. “This gives them the chance to see what paths are available and to think about what they might want to do.”
"My favorite part was exploring new things I'd never seen before," said Timothy Shropshire, a student from Red Bank Middle. "UTC is cool. I like the space and what's around the area. It's cool to see the different things they offer and see if I might want to go here or not."
Matt Murphy, Assistant Principal at Red Bank Middle, emphasized how visits like these are beneficial to students: “Providing our students with the opportunity to tour both UTC and Chattanooga State during our Summer Reach program allows them to explore some of the post-secondary education options available right here in Chattanooga. Post-secondary education can seem out of reach both geographically and financially for many of our students. Tours of UTC and Chatt State allow our students to experience the reality that high-quality college experiences are more accessible than they think.”
These campus visits inspire students, offering them a chance to dream big and think about their futures with a fresh perspective. By connecting them to college and community resources early, these visits help students see that a world of opportunities is closer than they ever imagined.
