Confidence, skills result in leadership roles

This year, four previous campers will return to leadership roles, a testimony to the lasting impact of ASCEND on campers and the region.

Michael Coate spent two years as a counselor and will return as the lead counselor for summer 2026. He returned because his first year provided a taste of what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, which is to be a clinical counselor. Modeling leadership skills he developed and honed over the last two years as counselor, Coate said his role is to "help the students achieve their full leadership potential or at least plant the seed."

"The best and most successful leader is one who puts service at the top of their priority list," he said. "I'm serving the best I can."

Other returning students experiencing full-circle moments include Emma Goss, former camper from Hall County who returned as a counselor and will be lead Pine Valley counselor this year. Grayson Ludington from Pickens County and Felisha Yarborough from Gilmer County are also returning as counselors.

According to Kelly West, director of the program, many ASCEND participants choose to enroll at UNG and have continued to grow as leaders in roles as undergraduate researchers, interns, campus organization leaders, UNG Honors Program leaders, and BOLD scholars.

ASCEND is open to high school students between their junior and senior year of high school with a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.