New College of Florida hosts teen summit with Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County

New College of Florida and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County brought more than 100 local teens to campus for a day of life-skills training, college exposure and community-building on July 29, 2026. The partnership is also setting up mentorship and internship opportunities for students.

Why it matters: - The summit gave more than 100 Manatee County teens early exposure to college life and practical skills that can affect school, work and daily decision-making. - New College of Florida is using the event to deepen local community ties and expand student mentorship and internship pathways.

What happened: - New College of Florida and its Career Center hosted the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County for the organization’s 2026 Teen Summit on July 29, 2026. - The full-day event took place on the New College campus in Sarasota. - The summit theme was T.U.F.F., short for Transforming Under Fire and Flourishing. - New College staff, the Career Center and the college’s events team provided programming, logistics, educational support and lunch.

The details: - Breakout sessions focused on conflict resolution, leadership after high school, and dating and relationships in today’s financial world. - Students took part in a “Design Your Future” activity that asked them to create custom college degrees based on their interests. - New College staff led an interactive campus scavenger hunt. - The event was designed to build resilience, teach life skills and give teens a first-time college-campus experience. - The college said the team’s hospitality helped students feel like they belonged on campus. - The partnership is also developing ongoing student mentorship and future internship opportunities.

Between the lines: - The event shows New College’s push to position the Career Center as a bridge between liberal arts education and local workforce preparation. - Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County framed the collaboration as a strong example of community engagement, with Director of Advocacy & Strategic Initiatives John Agnelli praising the effort in a letter to the college. - Agnelli said New College’s campus access, expertise and partnerships can expand opportunities for children and families.

What’s next: - New College and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County plan to build on the summit with mentorship and internship programs. - The Career Center will continue working with employers, alumni and local organizations to connect students with professional development and experiential learning.

The bottom line: - The summit turned a campus event into a broader community pipeline, linking teens, college exposure and future career support.