David Johnson studies Algebra 2.5 at AwesomeMath
David says that his first week was “very rigorous and stress-inducing, but that does not distract from the enjoyment of achievement that it left me with after its completion.”
Isabella Ratchford studies Biomedical Ethics at the Washington University High School Summer Scholars Program.
After settling in and meeting her two roommates, Isabella and friends toured the campus. “It felt like we all knew each other for years. I am excited for these bonds to grow and the adventures coming up,” Isabella says.
Celebrating GFF alumni who have recently graduated from high school.
The students talk about their future educational plans and how GFF programs have shaped their career paths.
Fourteen Southern Illinois High School Students Earn Garwin Family Foundation Scholarships for Summer 2025 Enrichment Opportunities
This group of high-achieving students is a tribute to Carbondale Community High School, Carterville High School, and Herrin High School, which provide them with such extraordinary structure close to home.
Bill Xu studies “Mathematical Elements of AI” at the Harvard University Pre-Summer Camp.
“We started by diving into linear algebra, a foundational subject for understanding and working with AI. We covered important topics such as matrices, vectors, and eigenvalues, and explored how these concepts are applied in machine learning algorithms. This solid grounding in linear algebra is essential for grasping more advanced AI topics,” Bill explains.
Seth Daniels attends the Research Development Institute at Washington University College of Arts & Sciences Pre-College Program.
During his first week, Seth had an “incredible” time. He met and socialized with wide variety of students, plus learned how to navigate the St. Louis metro and shuttle services.
Alexei Kadyrov studies Algebra 2.5 at Awesome Math.
Alexei Kadyrov talks about his online experience at Awesome Math where he has been studying Algebra 2.5. During his virtual course, Alexei attended lectures and problem sessions, followed by challenging homework assignments, and tests.
Evan Wiggs attends “Physics of the Stars” at the University of Chicago Summer Immersion Program.
“So far my journey at UChicago has exceeded my expectations in every way. In my friend group alone, there are people from New York, Ann Arbor, California, Britain, Hong Kong, and Turkey. Aside from my academic experience, I have learned so much about other parts of the world and cultures through these people,” Evan says.
Jordan Johnson attends “From Physics Through Biology to Medicine” at the Michigan Math and Science Scholars Program.
Jordan quickly settled in, connected with a diverse variety of students, and learned unique concepts he had never experienced before. “The opportunity to meet so many new people from diverse places and backgrounds has been incredibly enriching,” Jordan says.
Zoya Chowdhury studies Surface Chemistry at the Michigan Math and Science Scholars Program.
Zoya says that she has been “captivated by the subject matter,” and has been really enjoying the lab work sessions.
Ahmik Ahmed studies Biology and Its Modern Applications at the University of Chicago Summer Immersion Program.
During his first week, Ahmik enjoyed exploring the campus and learning interesting facts about the university.
Sydney Davis attends the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop.
During her first week of the course, Sydney spent time reading and annotating passages from the Kenyon Review. “The pieces we’re reading range from essays and poems to short stories,” Sydney explains.
Tanya Arun studies Foundations of Psychological Research at the University of Chicago Summer Immersion Program.
Tanya Arun reports on her virtual course “Foundations of Psychological Research” from the University of Chicago. Tanya spent her first week learning about the sub-fields of psychology, animal models, and research methods.
Addison Krotz studies “Forensic Physics” at the Michigan Math and Science Scholars program.
After settling in her dorm, Addison was happy to meet up with GFF students Zoya Chowdhury and Francis Bu who are also attending MMSS. She also met her roommate and explored the campus at MMSS.
Liam Batteau attends High School Jazz Intensive in Bass at the University of Cincinnati.
Liam has been adjusting to dorm life and learning music theory. He says that his first week has been filled with “exciting and interesting moments.”
Myra Anderson studies Computational Biology at the University of Chicago Summer Immersion Program
During her first week, Myra settled into her dorm room, connected with students from around the world, and made friends with students who are attending other courses as they shared their individual stories and experiences.
Francis Bu studies Surface Chemistry at the Michigan Math and Science Scholars summer program.
Francis Bu reports on his experiences at the Michigan Math and Science Scholars program, where he is studying “Surface Chemistry.” During the first week, Francis learned, through a wide variety of coursework and lectures, where his passion lies.