Siddesh Mandalaparti shows off the basic electrical circuit he made during one of the event’s STEM activities. Mandalaparti attends Woodville Thompkins and is in the ninth grade. Since Woodville Thompkins offers technical classes, Mandalaparti opted to take classes in automotive engineering and aviation.

Georgia Tech, Savannah Campus hosted its inaugural First Generation College Institute event for students in grades 8 – 12 on July 16 at the Georgia Tech Savannah Campus. The program was a collaboration between Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC) and Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The purpose of  this event is to introduce first-generation and limited income students to the resources and information that are available to them prior to applying for college. Although the event focused on Georgia Tech’s admission process, the information participants received is applicable to any university. | Photos by Alex Arango

Georgia Tech, Savannah Campus hosted its inaugural First Generation College Institute event for students in grades 8 – 12 on July 16 at the Georgia Tech Savannah Campus.
Participants had the opportunity to learn about video game programming and coding using a BrainPad.Photo by Alex Arango
A group of students sit at a table and listen to a Georgia Tech instructor on how to create electric circuits. Photo by Alex Arango
A student participates in one of the event’s many STEM activities which included video game design, hurricane simulations, sound design and more. Photo by Alex Arango
Three students work on creating a basic GPS system using mirco:bits.Photo by Alex Arango
Two students work on creating a GPS program using micro:bits. Photo by Alex Arango
Micro:bits have LED light displays, buttons, sensors and a variety of input/output features that can be programmed. In this activity students used micro:bits to make a basic GPS program. Photo by Alex Arango
For this activity students used micro:bits to make a basic GPS program. Photo by Alex Arango
The group of interns that came from Atlanta to help with the First-Generation College Insitute event.Photo by Alex Arango
Stefania Di’ Carlo (left) helps Blessin Brown (right) with an activity during the First-Generation College Institute event. Di’ Carlo is an intern working with the First-Generation College Institute. The state-wide summer initiative is designed to identify, engage and prepare participants in making a seamless transition to college. The program also seeks to expose students to STEM and STEAM enrichment. Photo by Alex Arango
Anthony William Sr. (left) and Anthony Williams Jr. (right) look through an information sheet provided by the event’s organizers. Williams Sr. said that the event has shown him and his son how to put the first foot forward when applying for colleges and financial aid. Williams Jr. who is a rising senior at New Hampstead High School.Photo by Alex Arango
Jonah Coppock and his mother Jessica look through financial aid information. Jonah is a rising senior at New Hampstead High School. The most useful information for the two has been on financial aid admissions and keeping up with deadlines. Photo by Alex Arango
Throughout the one-day event students are given information and resources that will make the college application process less of a daunting task. Students were given binders with important information regarding college admissions and how to track financial aid deadlines. Photo by Alex Arango
First-Generation Program and Operations Manager Charmaine Troy introduces herself to the events participants on Saturday, July 16. Troy is a first-generation student herself and stresses the importance of being proactive rather than reactive not just with school work, but with the college admissions and financial aid process. “When I was in high school, there was nothing like this (First-Generation College Institute). There were no large institutions that came to my high school,” said Troy. “The reason for putting together this program is because I want to make sure they (students 8th through 12th) have this information.” Troy also explained that the earlier this information is given to students, the more success they will have when applying for college. Photo by Alex Arango.
Zaria Hardnett is a first-generation college student that attends Georgia Tech. She along with other interns traveled from Atlanta to tell students more about the resources and information available to them. Hardnett also answered questions regarding life in college, and what incoming freshmen can expect.Photo by alex Arango
A group of students participate in an icebreaker activity. Students were split into breakout sessions to discuss information they learned during the morning informational sessions, and to interact with one another. Photo by Alex Arango
Roneasha Lawrence is a homeschooled student, and wants to pursue a career in creative writing. She came to the event to learn more about opportunities and scholarships that colleges offer. Photo by Alex Arango

This article appears in Jul 20-26, 2022.

Alex Arango is a multimedia journalist and Savannah local. He has a passion for quality community journalism, and is looking forward to serving the city that he has always called home.