Camp teaches basics of logistics to students

Twelve high school students from surrounding counties experienced a crash course in logistics and supply chain management at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Camp Logistics, held June 23-27 at UNG's Gainesville Campus.

They received classroom instruction from Mike Cottrell College of Business (MCCB) faculty and insights from logistics and supply chain management professionals in the mornings, then went on field trips in the afternoons to see hands-on applications of what they were learning.

"It has been absolutely thrilling to see the energy and curiosity from high school students across our local counties during the third logistics summer camp co-hosted by MCCB and Syfan Logistics. The enthusiasm they've shown for the world of logistics has been the most rewarding part of this entire successful experience," Dr. Varun Gupta, associate professor of logistics and business analytics, said. "We are incredibly proud to host students from so many different high schools in the area, as this diverse participation enriches the program for everyone involved. The incredible support we've received was fundamental to making this camp a reality, and it's wonderful to see the students so engaged and excited about their future possibilities."

Participant Adhithi Manikandan is a rising junior at South Forsyth High School.

"I am planning to start a business, so this was good knowledge to have," Manikandan said.

Shireen Sundar, a rising sophomore at South Forsyth High School, was also using the camp to gain insights for her career.

"I want to be in the health care field, so this camp interested me in how logistics relates to health care," Sundar said.

Evan Tran, a rising sophomore at Lambert High School, chose to come to Camp Logistics because he heard of the field trips. He was grateful to broaden his perspective on the industry.

"It helped me learn all about logistics and made me consider different careers I might have not looked at before," Tran said.

Wakeitha Cunningham, a business and logistics teacher from Empower College and Career Center in Jackson County, Georgia, also attended the camp. Cunningham earned a bachelor's degree in human services delivery and administration in 2021 and an associate degree in social work in 2019 from UNG.

She said the camp was only the latest instance of UNG's support. Gupta and Dr. Mohan Menon, department head of Marketing & Logistics, helped mentor Cunningham during the 2024-25 academic year, her first as a teacher, on how to teach logistics to high school students.