Girl Up Tours University of Miami

The Girl Up club of Manatee Middle School visited University of Miami on February 26th to introduce the girls to college life and promote college readiness. The girls toured the campus and ate lunch in a UM dining hall. They were impressed by the abundant outdoor seating areas, beautiful fountains, endless meeting areas for students inside and outside, and the many ongoing student activities. They especially enjoyed the beautiful sculptures and architecture throughout the campus. Of course, a big hit was the on-campus Starbucks! The Burfield Foundation of Marco Island sponsored the trip for Girl Up, which included transportation, lunch, and matching t-shirts for the trip. The t-shirts were designed by club members in January in preparation for the trip with the help of Janet Brooks, a member of Marco Island DAR. All in all, the trip was a success, and many girls are considering UM as their future school.

Genesis Urrutia is in 8th grade and a member of the Girl Up club.