Hollins offers a variety of awesome programs and educational experiences for high school-aged girls! Our summer experiences are designed specifically for girls interested in college, to help them explore their academic interests and test out life in the dorms. Push your creative limits, learn how to fight for your rights, or to discover the leader within you!
Hollinsummer
Pre-College program for young women
Looking for an exciting and meaningful summer experience? Hollinsummer offers pre-college programs designed for high school teens who want to explore creative writing, STEM, or equestrian studies. Students spend a week on our beautiful campus, learn from college-level instructors, and connect with peers who share their interests.
2026 Hollinsummer Programs
July 12 – 18, 2026
- Creative Writing: A weeklong creative writing intensive for young women who want to grow as writers in fiction, poetry, and personal narrative.
- Riding Program: Sessions offered July 12 to 18 and July 19 to 25. For intermediate and advanced riders interested in hunter and jumper instruction, barn management, and daily riding.
- Science Seminar: A hands-on STEM experience that introduces students to research, experimentation, and real scientific exploration.
Summer Scholars Program
Where empowerment meets possibility
July 12 – 25, 2026
This immersive, two-week liberal arts summer program allows young women to experience life as a college student. Sponsored by a grant from The Teagle Foundation, the program is provided at no cost to participants and gives them an opportunity to study and build connections with students and professors who are invested in their growth.
Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest
Entry Deadline: October 31
Sponsored by Hollins University, the 62nd Annual Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest provides scholarships, prizes, and recognition for the best poems submitted by young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school.