Angie Barnard Executive Director at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Official website
Angie Barnard Executive Director at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Official website
High school students are invited to participate in Illini Summer Academies, organized by Illinois Extension 4-H, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from June 22 to June 26, 2025. This event provides students an opportunity to explore college life and engage in interactive sessions led by Illinois faculty, including five hosted by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES).
Sessions highlight pressing modern challenges and include diverse topics such as Digital Agriculture, Food Insecurity, Sustainability, and Ag Tech Innovations. A session led collaboratively by ACES and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences focuses on Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, while ACES and the College of Veterinary Medicine present the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences Academy.
Other sessions offered across the University of Illinois campus feature topics like AI & Machine Learning, Business Exploration, Engineering, Health Sciences, the Arts, and Leadership skills.
Participants will reside in campus dormitories, dine in university facilities, and attend sessions with peers from various regions. Mark Becker, a 4-H youth development food systems specialist with Illinois Extension and the College of ACES, commented on the value of the program by saying, “This event is all about discovery — we want young people to see that agriculture and environmental sciences aren’t just fields, they’re dynamic careers that impact communities and the planet. These academies let students step into that future.”
Applications are still open for ACES-hosted academies, with some scholarships available, and the deadline to apply is April 15.
Illinois 4-H, part of the University of Illinois Extension, aims to develop youth into empowered leaders, making significant positive impacts. Data indicates that participants in 4-H are more likely to engage in community, make healthy choices, become civically active, and pursue STEM fields.
For further information, media communications can contact Carissa Nelson at carissa7@illinois.edu.
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