Visit offers firsthand look at college pathways and support

BBBSNCA CEO Michael Sanzi and UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD (center), with middle and high school students who visited UMGC on July 22, 2026.

A group of local middle and high school students and their mentors from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area (BBBSNCA) got a firsthand introduction to University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) last month to explore higher education and the opportunities it can create for their futures. 

Hosted by UMGC’s Community Engagement & Opportunity team, the July 22, 2026, visit to the university’s global headquarters in Adelphi, Maryland, featured a tour and a panel with current UMGC students who shared their experiences in higher education. The event also showcased the academic pathways, support services, and educational opportunities available to learners at UMGC, giving students insight into the resources available to help them succeed. 

UMGC students (from left) Aveille Fields, Keith Speights, and Alisha Georges shared their experiences with Big Brothers Big Sisters students and their mentors.

“At UMGC, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to see themselves in higher education—not just to hear about it, but to experience it firsthand and to know there is space for them if they want it,” UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, told the visiting students. 

“That's really what today was about. It's one thing to be told college is possible. It's another thing to visit a classroom, talk to a student, meet someone who worked in a field that interested you, and ultimately to begin to think—and more importantly, to believe—‘I could do that. I could be that person.’”

“Experiences like this help young people see higher education as something real and within reach,” said Michael Sanzi, CEO of BBBSNCA. “By exploring a university campus alongside their mentors and hearing directly from current students, our Littles can envision new possibilities for their futures and gain the confidence to pursue them. We are grateful to UMGC for helping bring those possibilities to life.”

The visit reflected a shared commitment by UMGC and BBBSNCA to expanding access to educational opportunities and helping young people envision their future paths. It also highlighted the value of community partnerships that help students see higher education as an attainable pathway and encourage them to explore their potential with confidence.

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters and their work in the region, visit https://bbbsnca.org/.