Every Eureka! summer has a personality of its own. Summer 2026 began with possibility. For the first time, new and returning Eurekans arrived at Kennesaw State University’s Marietta Campus for four weeks of hands-on learning, leadership, friendship, and discovery.

From the first morning, the girls were doing more than attending a traditional summer camp. They were stepping into engineering labs, computer classrooms, and college spaces that invited them to picture themselves in places and careers that may once have felt out of reach.

Turning Curiosity Into Confidence

As the days became weeks, curiosity grew into confidence. Participants planted gardens, stitched one-of-a-kind upcycled tote bags, launched rockets, coded mobile apps, debated the ethics of artificial intelligence, and explored topics ranging from sustainable agriculture and backyard ecosystems to aerospace engineering.

Learning continued beyond the lab. At the KSU Field Station, the girls explored pollinator gardens and saw how food served in the dining hall is planted, grown, harvested, and distributed. Visits to the Oddities Museum and Tellus Science Museum introduced them to anatomy, biology, fossils, gemstones, dinosaurs, space, and the nature of time. Their conversations after the planetarium experience even inspired the launch of a Eureka! science-fiction book club.

But the most meaningful growth often happened between the scheduled activities. Laughter filled lunch over spirited games of Uno. Two intricate 1,000-piece puzzles became a group mission. Girls who had been hesitant to speak during the first week gradually began sharing ideas, encouraging one another, and presenting their work with confidence.

Confidence rarely appears all at once. It grows when young people feel seen, heard, challenged, supported, and encouraged to keep trying.

Youth of the Summer: Akua Owusu-Afriyie

First-time Eurekan Akua Owusu-Afriyie brought focus, humor, and an unmistakable love of a challenge to the program. As she became more comfortable with her Eureka! sisters and staff, her quick wit and competitive spirit began to shine.

Akua helped turn games and puzzles into community-building experiences. Her enthusiasm drew other participants into daily Uno games and group puzzle sessions where everyone could contribute. She challenged her peers to do their best while celebrating their accomplishments and making sure others felt included.

Her talents extended into the Computer Science Lab, where she designed and published an app inspired by her interests in music, games, and humor. The project earned Akua the opportunity to present at the culminating ceremony, demonstrating what young people can achieve when they receive encouragement, resources, and room to explore their ideas.

A Historic Final Chapter

The Eureka! Culminating Ceremony brought together proud families, friends, Girls Inc. participants, staff, volunteers, and community partners. Eurekans showcased the apps they coded, the bags they designed, and the rockets they built. They also recognized one another with Paper Plate Awards celebrating kindness, perseverance, humor, and friendship.

The ceremony marked an especially meaningful milestone: Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta’s first Eureka! cohort graduated after completing the program’s full five-year journey. Their achievement represented years of learning, mentorship, positive risk-taking, and preparation for college and future careers.

Storyteller of the Summer: Stephanie Banner

Longtime Program Facilitator Stephanie Banner returned to Eureka! with the warmth, professionalism, and curiosity that have made her such an important part of the program. This summer, she facilitated the Lean In Girls leadership and advocacy curriculum, encouraging participants to speak up for themselves and others while modeling confidence, empathy, and respect.

Stephanie’s creativity brought joy into the classroom, and her commitment to building trusting relationships helped create a safe, affirming environment where participants could share their hopes, questions, challenges, and aspirations. Her thoughtful observations and ideas will continue to strengthen Eureka! programming long after the summer ends.

Summer 2026 will be remembered for rockets, coding, gardens, museums, and new discoveries. More importantly, it will be remembered as a summer when girls left believing they belong in laboratories, engineering classrooms, boardrooms, and anywhere else their dreams may take them.