Stepping onto a college campus for the first time can feel intimidating – the unfamiliar buildings, the bustle of students, the sense of possibility all at once. But for high school students attending Butler University’s BU: BeReal camp, those initial nerves can quickly transform into curiosity, excitement, and a chance to imagine themselves thriving in a future they might never have considered.
Zaiah Crites, a first-year Lacy School of Business (LSB) Finance major, remembers that feeling vividly.
BU: BeReal was her first-ever camp experience. Encouraged by her great-grandmother, who had spotted the camp’s call-out on Facebook, Zaiah decided to take a leap into the unknown. “It was kind of like speed dating – but for friends,” she laughs. “By the end of the week, we had created a family out of complete strangers.”
Supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Indiana Youth Programs on Campus initiative, and developed in collaborations across the university, BU: BeReal included business- and leadership-focused programming shaped in part by LSB.
It gently eased Zaiah into college life – helping her adjust to dorm routines and navigate daily schedules. But the real magic came from the hands-on business experiences led by LSB faculty, she got a taste of real college classes and even earned a college credit through LSB, giving her a tangible step toward higher education while building confidence and practical skills.
The first-generation college student got to see what it meant to build a business, explore marketing, and understand basic finance – all lessons that directly connected to what she’s learning now in her first-year business classes. “It was like a pre-prep for college coursework,” she says. The experience gave her both confidence and a sense of preparedness that few first-year students have, and it sparked a deeper curiosity about her potential in business.
Beyond academics, BU: BeReal emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and personal growth. Zaiah discovered a newfound self confidence, and she learned to communicate, work with others, and step into leadership roles in ways she hadn’t before. “I realized I could be a leader in situations,” she says, reflecting on the week’s impact.
Since its launch, BU: BeReal has more than tripled in size – growing from just over 60 students in 2023 to nearly 140 in 2025, with more than 325 participants so far.
Part of what makes the camp so transformative is its commitment to accessibility. Scholarships are offered to students from low-income backgrounds or those who will be first-generation college students, giving every camper the chance to experience life on Butler’s campus. For a full week, they live on campus and immerse themselves in both academic and co-curricular opportunities – building the skills and confidence to not just attend college, but thrive there.
For Jessica Stoltzfus, Director of Camps & Community Programs, the college immersion program is about more than just early exposure to business concepts – it’s about bringing those ideas to life. “High school students need to see what business and other industries look like in action,” she explains. “We want them to feel empowered to take risks, test ideas, and see themselves as capable leaders.”
That vision is echoed by Emily Hawk, Assistant Dean of Innovation and Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, who sees the camp as a turning point for many. Students often arrive unsure; unsure of what business really is, unsure if college is for them. By the end of the week, she says, something shifts. “It’s about creating a safe place for students to explore, fail, pivot, and ultimately discover their strengths.”
Zaiah is living proof of that shift. She describes the week as transformative – an experience that gave her not only practical skills but also a new sense of excitement for the journey ahead. “I’m starting from zero in my major, so I’m excited to grow, join clubs, network, and build a strong resume. The camp gave me a head start in understanding what it takes to succeed in business.”
Her advice to future campers is simple but powerful: “Put yourself out there, try new things, and go into it with an open mind.”
Registration for the 2026 summer session opens in December. The Lacy School of Business is committed to reaching students who may never have imagined college or a career in business, which is why BU: BeReal will expand to include a fully business-focused program in 2026. The pre-college program runs a full week, with intensive academic programming in the mornings and leadership, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities in the afternoons.
“Whether or not they choose Butler or the Lacy School of Business after high school is not the goal,” Hawk says. “The goal is to touch students’ lives in meaningful ways, helping them grow into confident, independent, and innovative leaders.”
To learn more about Bu: BeReal, click here.