This summer, the Archway Partnership is proud to welcome a new cohort of students back home through the Look Ahead Georgia internship program, launching June 1. 

Look Ahead Georgia is an eight-week internship initiative designed to connect University of Georgia (UGA) students with meaningful work opportunities in their rural hometowns. By placing students with local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits, the program helps them rediscover the professional, financial, and personal opportunities available in Georgia communities.

This year’s communities, host organizations, and interns include: 

A group of students stand together at the front of a room

Look Ahead Georgia Interns Welcome in Moultrie. (Photo by Mary Grace Feldman)

Colquitt County:

  • Chill C. Farms – Landon Beaty, Terry College of Business 
  • Colquitt County School District – Rebekah NeSmith, Terry College of Business
  • Colquitt Regional Health System – Geny Guevara-Rodriguez, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ; Jackson McCorkle, College of Engineering; Kenneth Baggett, Mary Frances Early College of Education; Luis Corona, College of Pharmacy; Sara Coope, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
  • Georgia Department of Transportation – Destaney Johnson, College of Engineering
  • Inspired Wealth Planning – Cort Lauder, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Southern Regional Technical College – Anna Browning, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
A group of people stand together smiling

Look Ahead Georgia Interns Welcome in Dublin. (Photo by Mary Grace Feldman)

Dublin-Laurens County:

  • City of Dublin – Rebecca Brantley, College of Engineering
  • Curry Companies – Ava Bell Craft, Mary Frances Early College of Education 
  • Curry Maffett Insurance – Zaylen Boston, School of Public and International Affairs
  • Dublin VA Medical Center – Ella Johnson, Mary Frances Early College of Education
  • Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce – Emma Sumner, Terry College of Business
  • Fairview Park Hospital – Tristen Ellis, College of Public Health and Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
  • Gayco Healthcare – Madelynn Rayner, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
  • Oconee EMC – Will Brown, School of Public and International Affairs
  • Symphona LLP – Alex Arias, Terry College of Business
A group of people stand in front of a banner

Look Ahead Georgia Interns in Hart County. (Photo by Taylor West)

Hart County:

  • Hart EMC – Bryce Adams, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • Hartwell Downtown Development Authority – Aeva Looney, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
  • Nestle Purina – Ethan Yntema, College of Engineering; Tahj Courage, College of Engineering
A group of people stand together smiling

Look Ahead Interns in Pulaski County. (Submitted photo)

Pulaski County:

  • Bree Harrell State Farm Agency – Maddie Grace Wall, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
  • CKH Group – Aniyah Hall, Terry College of Business
  • D.M. Vickers & Associates, PC, CPA’s – Om Patel, Terry College of Business
A group of people stand in front of "The Depot", a brick building in Thomson, Georgia

Look Ahead Interns in Thomson-McDuffie County. (Submitted photo)

Thomson-McDuffie County:

  • City of Thomson – Ryn Langley, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
  • Dudley Nurseries  – Mikey Bagwell, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • McDuffie County – Kaylee Tam , College of Engineering; Carson Eubank, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Piedmont McDuffie – Eli Brown, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences;  Jordan Roberts, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
A group of people stand together smiling

Look Ahead Interns in Washington County. (Photo by Taylor West)

Washington County:

  • B-H Transfer – Maddux McClarin, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Howard Sheppard, Inc. – Addyson Upton, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Sandersville Veterinary Clinic – Madelyn May, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • Washington County Regional Medical Center – Allie Grace Johnson, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

These students represent a powerful investment in the future of rural Georgia. Too often, college graduates leave rural communities without fully realizing the range of career paths available back home. The Look Ahead Georgia program changes that by creating direct connections between students and local employers. 

Look Ahead Georgia is made possible through strong partnerships with local hosts/employers, along with support from the UGA Archway Partnership, UGA Career Center and the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. 

For students, the experience offers hands-on professional development, community engagement opportunities, and a $5,000 stipend. For employers, it provides access to highly motivated, skilled interns and recruitment support at little to no cost. 

Beyond the workplace, interns are encouraged to engage in the community through local events, civic organizations, and service opportunities. This enables them to build lasting relationships and a deeper connection to their hometown. 

The goals of Look Ahead Georgia are simple but impactful: retain local talent, strengthen the rural workforce, and foster the next generation of community leaders. As these students return home to learn, contribute, and grow, they are moving beyond internships and into roles as future leaders and vital contributors to the continued success of Georgia communities. 

For more information about the program, please contact LookAheadGeorgia@uga.edu. 

We are always recruiting new host employers for student internships. Are you a community member or employer, interested in getting your organization involved in Look Ahead Georgia? Contact Jeffrey Burke, Look Ahead Georgia program coordinator, at jburke@uga.edu.  

 

Look Ahead Georgia is part of a $3 million grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and a grant from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission. It is 100% federally funded, with 0% non-governmental funding.