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At 5 am, a van full of sleepy Pine View High School students pulled out of Sarasota and headed north to Gainesville. Among them was Jeffrey Anderson, then a senior in Jay Skipper’s AP Chemistry class. Skipper had urged his students to sign up for UF’s Chemathon, a daylong competition where hundreds of Florida high schoolers put their skills to the test in labs and quiz bowls.

By nightfall, Anderson’s team would take first place at Chemathon, and Anderson himself would walk away with more than a paper certificate. The experience solidified his decision to pursue biochemistry at UF, introduced him to the university’s research labs and even connected him with mentors who would later become his colleagues.

Today, Anderson is a teaching assistant for General Chemistry 2 and is a double-major in biology and biochemistry. He looks forward to volunteering at the next Chemathon in spring 2026.

Chemathon is just one of many ways the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences opens its doors to students long before they apply for admission. From Math Circle to Molecular Mania, from Latin’s certamen to European Studies global outreach, CLAS programs extend the Gator learning community well beyond the university walls, sparking curiosity and building confidence for students from kindergarten through college.

Science in action

Now in its 25th year, Chemathon brings together teams of high schoolers to mix and measure their way through experiments designed by UF faculty and student volunteers. The spring event provides most attending students with their first experience working in a college lab, and for some, their first time on a college campus.

“For high school students, attending Chemathon not only increases your interest in chemistry but strengthens your foundation and introduces you to the college landscape,” Anderson said.

“My students absolutely loved the experience,” said Skipper, after attending the event with his students for the second year. “They told me the quiz bowl was fun and engaging, that seeing chemists in action was inspiring and that touring the labs helped them picture what research might be like in college.”

Assistant Instructional Professor of Chemistry Ashlyn Hale is a faculty advisor for the UF Chemistry Club and helps lead the charge of 160 undergraduate and graduate volunteers who design experiments that are both engaging and safe, turning chemistry into a lively, interactive adventure. From creating colorful chemical reactions to exploring everyday applications of scientific principles, students get a chance to see science in action, rather than just on paper.

“A big part of helping people see themselves as scientists is letting them see the science in front of them, and to realize that anyone can do it,” Hale said. According to Hale, this year’s event drew 232 students from 24 schools across the state.

Molecular Mania is another science-based outreach event organized by the Center for Catalysis. The event transforms complex scientific concepts into hands-on experiences for middle and high school students. Since its inception by Professor of Chemistry Adam Veige, the program has welcomed more than 15,000 children and families over the past 20 years. This year alone, 180 volunteers performed a record 29 experiments at the event in October at the Oaks Mall in Gainesville.

“What’s really cool about these large events is that all the grad students who volunteer come from all around the country and the world,” Hale said. “So when the kids come, they’re not just seeing science — they’re seeing science with many faces. They get to see themselves reflected in that, which I think is powerful.

Beyond inspiring young minds, Hale ensures that volunteers develop leadership and teaching skills, creating a ripple effect of engagement that extends beyond UF’s campus. The experience reinforces the cycle of learning that defines CLAS outreach: those who were once inspired now pay it forward. Through Molecular Mania and Chemathon, UF faculty and volunteers help cultivate both enthusiasm for STEM and the next generation of scientific thinkers.

Math at play

While Chemathon transforms UF’s chemistry labs into a stage for high school competition, Math Circle opens campus classrooms on quiet Saturday mornings, offering K-12 students a chance to see math as exploration rather than memorization.

Led by faculty, graduate and undergraduate volunteers, Math Circle sessions bring students to campus to play, solve puzzles and discover math the way researchers do. Rather than drills or test prep, students investigate patterns, test ideas and see how mathematicians ask questions and generalize findings.

“We want to show what math really is,” said Associate Professor Dana Bartosova, director of the Gainesville program. “It helps kids develop a different relationship with mathematics and maybe even discover how fun it can be.”

The program, now in its fourth year, spans elementary, middle and high school levels with activities adjusted for age but sharing the same spirit of discovery. Some of the brightest ideas come from the youngest students, while older participants dive deeper and faster into challenges, according to Bartosova. For many, it’s also a community, a place to connect with peers who share their passion for problem solving.

Each year, Math Circle culminates in a lively festival, drawing hundreds of families to campus for dozens of activities, games and puzzles. Like its chemistry counterparts, it’s an opportunity for students to see college not just as a destination but a playground for curiosity.

Classics come alive

The buzzers click, the questions fly, and the students lean forward, eager to answer. This is certamen, a quiz-bowl-style contest that transforms classical studies into a high-energy team sport. Middle and high school students from across Florida square off on questions about Latin grammar, Roman history and ancient myth, testing not just what they’ve memorized but how quickly they can think on their feet.

Sponsored by UF’s Department of Classics, the annual tournament is organized by students Eleanor Riggs and Jonathan Nunes, in partnership with the Florida Junior Classical League. Both third-year classics majors, Riggs and Nunez are passionate about opening the discipline to a new generation. What began as a seven-school event has grown to 11, with the third annual tournament set to draw even more.

Riggs describes the competition as a “cool experience” for younger students, who leave not only with new knowledge but also with confidence in their ability to learn. “They realize their own capacity,” said Riggs.

Faculty sponsor Victoria Pagán believes the impact runs even deeper, saying certamen challenges the idea that classics is an elitist field. “Here, the playing field is level,” Pagán said. “You need only your mind to compete at the highest level, no special equipment needed.”

Noah Harris is a middle and high school Latin teacher at Oak Hall School in Gainesville. A 2022 CLAS graduate with a BA in classics and linguistics, Harris has brought his students to the UF Certamen Tournament for the past two years.

“When students come to these tournaments, they see they are not alone,” Harris said. “They see other schools using the same study guides and buzzers, and they realize there’s a broader community out there that loves Latin too.”

Harris added that initiatives like a certamen tournament do more than just support the work in the classroom. “In an age where a lot of thinking is now done digitally,” he said, “I’m trying to foster a love for learning and a love for thinking. Events like this truly help with that.”

For the students buzzing in, certamen is more than a competition. It’s proof that the ancient world still inspires and that learning itself can be a thrilling game.

Global perspectives, local classrooms

In classrooms across Florida, young students are learning that Europe is more than a map on the wall or a chapter in a textbook. Through the Center for European Studies (CES), UF faculty and staff help teachers find fresh ways to bring global perspectives to life, connecting students to art, politics, food and culture.

Funded as a U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center, CES develops programs that equip teachers with tools, lesson plans and hands-on experiences. Its mission is to make international education tangible and relevant, no matter where students live.

“Our goal is to help young people see Europe not just as a distant place, but as a dynamic part of their daily lives, through art, politics, food, technology and culture,” said Lenka Bustikova, professor of political science and CES director. “By expanding global literacy early, we are preparing students to thrive in an interconnected world.”

CES also fosters direct student engagement. Themed events bring European traditions to life and include music, dance and food, allowing students to not just learn about culture, but to experience it firsthand. Interactive simulations, such as mock European Union debates, challenge high schoolers to wrestle with the same issues policymakers face, transforming abstract politics into engaging problem-solving exercises.

These initiatives have ripple effects that extend well beyond a single lesson. By sparking curiosity about Europe, CES also enhances broader skills like empathy, adaptability and the ability to recognize multiple perspectives.

In recent years, CES has partnered with school districts across Florida, tailoring programs to meet local needs. A collaboration with rural schools introduced digital storytelling projects, while urban classrooms explored Europe through art exhibitions and language mini lessons. Every initiative reflects CES’s belief that global education belongs to everyone, not just those who travel abroad.

Each year, UF’s 34th Street Art Wall Program turns Gainesville’s iconic graffiti wall into a student gallery. Alachua County high school artists submit mural designs inspired by an annual theme, with past topics including “Her Story,” “European Food Culture” and “Building Europe.” Finalists bring their designs to life on the wall, creating a vibrant celebration of both art and culture.

Grisell Santiago, associate professor of world languages at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School at UF, has had several students participate in the art competition in past years.

“It’s inspiring to see students become so expressive and excited. Showing their creativity in a public space helps build their confidence and their respect for other cultures,” Santiago said.

At its heart, the work of CES is about opening doors. “Education is about possibility,” Bustikova said. “When we bring Europe into K-12 classrooms, we’re not just teaching facts, but we are showing students a bigger picture of what the world can be.”

CES programs for educators are more than professional development; they are a spark for inspiration. Designed to empower teachers, the programs range from classroom visits to the annual Language Teacher Summer Institute. The Educators-in-Residence program lets teachers dive deep into contemporary European topics, develop lesson plans and collaborate with peers nationwide. The Language Teacher Summer Institute offers hands-on training and in-service credit for teachers who are exploring the latest language-learning technologies. Through the Euro Book Club, middle and high school educators discuss European-themed books with experts and create lesson plans to enhance their curriculum. CES equips educators with tools, knowledge and inspiration to make Europe come alive in their classrooms.