2ndBRIDGE Brings Middle School Students to Campus

The 2ndBRIDGE program, hosted by the University of Tennessee Libraries, teaches middle school students about opportunities available at the University of Tennessee and motivates them to begin thinking about college preparedness.

The Libraries’ Office of Community Learning and Engagement organized the event held at the John C. Hodges Library on May 1. The 2026 2ndBRIDGE hosted sixty-five 7th-grade students from Algood Middle School, located in Cookeville, Tennessee, and five students from Knoxville’s UUNIK Academy. 

This year, the program included a student panel and three interactive sessions. At the panel, the 7th-graders had the opportunity to ask university students questions about college classes, life, dorm experiences, and more. Following the panel, they were invited to engage in three unique learning experiences: a tabling event with several campus departments, student organizations, and off-campus partners; an interactive session with representatives from the Haslam College of Business; and participation in a dynamic college budgeting activity.  

During the tabling experience, students were able to talk to thirteen different departments and organizations from across campus. Tabling exhibitors included the College of Arts and Sciences, the FUTURE Postsecondary Education Program, Materials Science and Engineering, the UT Federal Credit Union, and others.

LaKietha Jackson from the Haslam College of Business shared information on the different majors and summer programs offered by the college and led students in a business-themed Jeopardy-style game. 

The Big Orange Budgeting Activity introduced students to ways to budget as a college student, along with how to plan a class schedule. 

Following these break-out activities, the students enjoyed lunch from Ham n Goody’s on the picturesque lawn of the Humanities and Social Sciences Building and ended the day with a photo opportunity at Neyland Stadium.