Defining and Demonstrating Impact: 10 Years of the Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program

By Betsy Schneider, Director, Summer Immersion Program

This past Tuesday, we celebrated a milestone that felt both humbling and extraordinary: the 10th anniversary of the Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program. It was a moment to pause and reflect – to bring together the many Academic Leaders, staff, supporters, and partners who have helped this program flourish – and to recognize the profound impact it has had not only on Wake Forest University, but on the countless lives it has touched.

Measuring Growth by the Numbers

In higher education, we’re often reminded to measure impact in terms of scale and revenue. And by those measures, the growth of the Summer Immersion Program over the past decade has been nothing short of remarkable.

• Enrollment: From just 220 students in 2015 to 1,486 students in 2025
• Programs: From 4 non-residential institutes in 2015 to 23 residential institutes in 2025

The Summer Immersion Program has also become a powerful pathway to Wake Forest. Since Fall 2016, 986 SIP alumni have gone on to enroll as Wake Forest undergraduates. SIP alumni make up a significant portion of each class:

• Class of 2029 (Freshmen): 11%
• Class of 2028 (Sophomores): 10%
• Class of 2027 (Juniors): 8%
• Class of 2026 (Seniors): 7%

And the impact is not just in participation –  it’s in decisions. These numbers are powerful. They speak to the program’s ability to attract talented, curious, and motivated students to our community.

Measuring Growth by the Lives We Touch

But when I think about how to define and demonstrate impact, I don’t just think about numbers. I think about stories. Since I first started working for Wake Forest in August 2015, I’ve kept a “Smile File” – a folder filled with emails that remind me why this work matters. Messages from students and parents sharing how the program changed their lives. Notes from Academic Leaders grateful for the chance to dream big and innovate. Words of encouragement from University leadership thanking us for our seamless pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are the reminders that our work is about so much more than data points. It’s about relationships cultivated over time – high school students who attend SIP, fall in love with Wake Forest, and return years later as undergraduate mentors and staff members. It’s about Academic Leaders who, despite busy professional lives, devote themselves to creating rich, engaging institutes and spend countless hours brainstorming how to make their institutes unforgettable. And it’s about the devoted Pre-College Programs staff who give up weekends and summer evenings to ensure everything runs smoothly – all because they believe in the transformative potential of these experiences.

A Glimpse Into the Impact: Stories from the Smile File

Here are just a few of the countless messages that remind us why this work matters:

“We stayed up for hours last night as Andrew relayed story after story about his experience in the Sports Medicine Institute. We have never seen him so switched on about an academic subject – that kind of adrenaline had only ever been seen on the soccer field! It is not an exaggeration to call it transformational.”

“Before the Medicine Institute, I was unsure what career I wanted to pursue. After this program, I am sure I want to become a doctor. My grandparents’ struggles with lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis inspired me to make a difference – and this program showed me how.”

“The program helped me realize that Wake Forest is where I want to go. I’ve fully committed to becoming a mechanical engineer and am already taking courses to further that goal.” 

“My daughter loved the Neuroscience Institute –  from dissecting brains to meeting new friends and even singing karaoke. She’s already talking about attending Wake Forest in the future.”

“It surpassed all we had hoped for – it truly changed Lusya’s life. She’s already bought a suture kit and two medical books!”

“Even online, you made the program amazing. My daughter is LOVING IT. Thank you for putting this together so quickly and so well.”

“Your leadership institute gave me the confidence to lead my cross-country team with empathy and vision. I’ve grown into a more effective captain and created an environment where every voice is heard.”

“The Technology Institute deepened my academic interests and confirmed that Wake Forest is where I see myself continuing my education. Your enthusiasm made every day exciting.” 

These voices – and thousands more like them – remind us that behind every data point is a person whose trajectory has shifted because of this program.

Defining Impact: Beyond the Metrics

Our numbers are significant. Our growth is phenomenal. And the revenue we generate is undeniable. But our true impact is measured in the lives we change, the pathways we clarify, and the lightbulb moments we spark during one of the most formative and stressful times in a young person’s life. For 10 years, the Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program has been more than just a summer experience. It’s been a launchpad – for students discovering their passions, for faculty sharing their expertise, and for a university deepening its mission to educate the whole person. Here’s to the next decade of curiosity, connection, and impact.