In June, 40 high school students from across the country spent 10 days learning about the world of business, including higher education and possible careers, through Business Education for Talented Students (BETS), an annual summer program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business.
Immersive Learning
Haslam’s Office of Access and Community Connections (OACC) facilitates the competitive program, which enables rising high school seniors to learn about the world of business and prepare for college and their futures beyond. This year, BETS students spent the summer exploring what business looks like in the real world.
Faculty and staff led hands-on workshops in accounting, marketing, business analytics and entrepreneurship, while students also prepared for college through ACT practice with Outliers ACT Prep and essay coaching from the UT Writing Center.
Local leaders brought the lessons to life. Rob Stivers, Regions Bank market president, discussed investing; Ashlee Price of the Knoxville Chamber explored regional growth; and Damon Rawls shared advice on networking.
A surprise visit from Jimmy Haslam (HCB, ’85), owner of the Cleveland Browns, gave students a firsthand perspective on leadership and business.
Throughout the program, students also worked through a business simulation and made time for pickleball, Neyland Stadium, Main Event and a celebration with peer counselors.
LaKietha Jackson, the OACC’s coordinator of outreach and pre-collegiate programs, said BETS helps high school students see college and career opportunities they may not have known were possible.
“BETS provides students the chance to learn about our college and the business fields we offer degrees in and about university life in general,” Jackson said. “The 2026 BETS students were thrilled to be here, interacting with faculty, staff, business representatives and each other while gaining insights into future careers in business. We were happy to help them explore college and career possibilities, and we anticipate great achievements from them.”
The Student Perspective
For 2026 BETS participants, the program offered a clearer view of business education and a chance to practice new skills. They pointed to the business simulation and connections with peers as highlights of their time at Haslam.
Liam Featheringham of Chantilly, Virginia, thanked the program’s peer counselors for their support and praised the program’s impact.
“The insights provided by faculty and speakers offered lessons that will stay with me forever, with the most important being that people are the key to success,” he said. “I am excited to use these strategies and leadership skills as I prepare for college and pursue a career in finance.”
BETS introduced Jocelyn Santiago Olguin, of Louisville, Kentucky, to the world of business and showed her how Haslam can help her find her place.
“A major highlight was our intensive marketplace simulation project, which taught me so much about supply chain, teamwork and strategic decision making,” she said. “Beyond the classroom, we also learned the critical importance of financial literacy. Thanks to Regions Bank for funding this program and teaching us how to build healthy habits with our money as young professionals.”
Farragut, Tennessee’s Selam Mengesha appreciated the opportunity to meet fellow participants and get an early look at the business world.
“This experience strengthened my interest in business and leadership while providing hands-on experience with real-world decision-making,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful to the BETS faculty, staff and mentors for creating such a challenging and rewarding opportunity.”
The Next Generation of Business Leaders
Across 19 years, BETS has introduced more than 550 students to business, with 97 percent of them using the experience as a springboard to college entry. Approximately 68 percent of BETS participants enroll at UT. Donations from the program’s sponsor, Regions Financial Corp, make the program possible.
Clarence Vaughn, executive director of Haslam’s OACC, called Regions’ support of and participation in BETS a way of building a bridge to a better future.
“We cannot thank Regions enough,” Vaughn said. “With their generous support, BETS equips up-and-coming business leaders to succeed in an ever-more complex and challenging business world, which will benefit our communities in the years ahead.”
BETS is only one of many programs OACC offers to prepare new generations for the future of business. These outreach programs include the Early College Access Program, the Accounting and Information Management Academy, the Women Empowered through Business Institute and the Supply Chain Management Summer Program, as well as several community-centered initiatives in partnership with UT, the City of Knoxville, Knox County and other partners.
The next BETS program will be held in summer of 2027. For more information about how to participate, visit the BETS web page or contact LaKietha Jackson.
CONTACT: Scott McNutt, senior business writer/publicist, [email protected]
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