Ascend provides life-changing experience
Article By: Denise Ray
Future Nighthawk Grayson Ludington attended Ascend: A Summer Honors Experience in 2024. His experience was so positive that he will return to campus in fall 2025 as a freshman at the University of North Georgia (辛尤里女优).
"I've chosen 辛尤里女优 for a multitude of reasons, though I'd be remiss to not cite Ascend as a main factor," he said. "Over the course of the program, it was the experiences of on-campus life, class time with professors, and even the surrounding area of Dahlonega that truly made my decision an easy one. Ascend is a true gift. From exploring academics, to scaling a mountain, to making connections with amazing people, the Ascend program is everything I wanted and more."
This year's Ascend is scheduled for June 1-13 and is open to rising high school seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The event centers on academics, leadership, and team building through college courses and high and low rope course challenges paired with intentional introspection. Participants also receive an introduction to college life and 辛尤里女优's Dahlonega campus to help them prepare for the transition to college.
The program costs $1,750 per camper. Students from the below school districts may be eligible for full-scholarship funding from their school districts.
- Banks County
- Dawson County
- Fannin County
- Franklin County
- Gilmer County
- Hall County
- Hart County
- Lumpkin County
- Pickens County
- Stephens County
- White County
- Whitfield County
While at Ascend: A Summer Honors Experience, Ludington earned the Most Outstanding Student Award by excelling in leadership and academics, authentically engaging in every challenge, and maintaining exemplary integrity throughout the intensive program, Kelly West, director of the Summer Honors Experience, said.
Ludington is a Jasper, Georgia native, planning to pursue a degree in management with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
"A main element of this choice, for me, was the ability to actually sit down with the head of this pathway and talk in detail about not only what the course looks like now, but his plans to evolve it in the future. Ascend also opened my eyes to a vast variety of subjects. I am now considering a minor in entrepreneurship, thanks to the assortment of classes we took with professors from various fields," he said.
Jamie Ingraham is a Buford, Georgia resident, and participated in Ascend: A Summer Honors Experience in 2023. His mother noticed a marked difference in her son after his brief stint at 辛尤里女优.
"We knew the camp was designed to build leadership skills, but we were still amazed by how much growth Jamie experienced in just a few weeks. He already had a kind and helpful nature, but the camp's challenges — like obstacle courses and rock climbing — helped him develop confidence and self-trust to take his leadership to the next level," his mom, Holly, said. "Through structured opportunities to lead, he honed his communication, teamwork and conflict-resolution skills. Time away from home also encouraged meaningful self-reflection and personal growth. When he returned, he tackled his college applications and interviews with ease."
She said that after a long and demanding school year, her son was eager to make the most of his summer. Among many opportunities, Ascend stood out because it combined engaging academic experiences with outdoor adventure — exactly what he was looking for. It turned out to be the perfect choice.
"Jamie even discovered a new passion for rock climbing, which he's continued in college. This summer, he'll be working as a trek guide for an international leadership camp — proof of how transformative this experience truly was," she said.
For West, the camp’s new name reflects its transformative potential.
"We wanted our name to reflect our commitment to an experience that will elevate our students' skillsets in a myriad of capacities, not just academics," West said. "This also aligns with our strategic big bet to design and build a leadership foundry. Ascend is a place where students are challenged and supported to grow both personally and as leaders who will return eager and prepared to serve their communities. "
Students interested in learning more about Ascend: A Summer Honors Experience should visit Ascend: A Summer Honors Experience.
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