Expanding Horizons 2026 aims to learn through stories, now open for registration

Maryville College resembles nothing like the “little shanty of a house” where the Rev. Isaac Anderson first established it in 1819, but for one particular summer program, the intention remains strikingly similar: to encourage the pursuit of spiritual knowledge by young learners eager to explore life’s biggest questions.

While the institution is no longer the frontier seminary it once was, its enduring ties to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and its traditions of spiritual exploration, service and inquiry continue to create an ideal setting for Expanding Horizons, a weeklong summer program designed to help high school students engage faith in thoughtful, meaningful ways.

Billed as a “theological institute for high school youth,” Expanding Horizons will return to campus June 21-26, with applications now open for students who have completed ninth through 12th grades and are eager to explore theology in a college environment.

“Expanding Horizons provides a summer camp experience in that we eat, worship, study the Bible and spend time in small groups, through which students grow close throughout the week, even after arriving as strangers,” said the Rev. Paul Earheart-Brown (’15), associate chaplain at Maryville College and director of the program. “But it’s also an introduction to college life — students experience residence halls, the dining hall and the kind of academic programming we offer at Maryville.

“We take students’ curiosity seriously and place them in an environment where they learn from college faculty and have their ideas valued. Our hope is that they leave with skills and leadership capabilities that will serve them well wherever they go next.”

This year’s theme, Earheart-Brown added, is “Stories That Shape the World.”

“The week’s activities will examine how the Bible tells the story of God’s love for the world and how each of our stories fits into God’s larger story,” he said. “Students will study the storytelling found in the New Testament Gospels, the parables told by Jesus, and the ways stories shape our identities and our worldviews for better and for worse.”

Expanding Horizons students will take classes with two Maryville College professors — Dr. Bill Meyer, professor of philosophy, and Dr. Nancy Locklin-Sofer, professor of history. Meyer, Earheart-Brown said, will discuss New Testament Gospels as a genre and the parables of Christ as a form of teaching, while Locklin-Sofer will teach about how narratives and foundational myths have influenced geopolitics and national identity throughout history.

In those classes and other activities, participants will explore scripture not only as sacred text but also as narrative — engaging literary theory to better understand the deeper claims embedded within biblical stories and the ways those stories influence how people see themselves and others, Earheart-Brown said.

“They will also look at the stories of past Christians who used their voices and their stories to benefit the church and the world,” Earheart-Brown added. “By studying ways that Christians in the past have responded to difficulties, we can find a model for ways that we can stand up for justice, peace, forgiveness, wholeness and love in our world today.

“Stories can cause a great deal of harm in our world, but they can also bring healing in new and mysterious ways. Tuning into the story of the Spirit is a great balm in these trying times.”

For many students, Expanding Horizons becomes more than a single week — it becomes a turning point.

Some participants, like Earheart-Brown himself, later enroll at Maryville College. Others return as mentors, helping guide new students through the same experience that shaped them.

Lauren Huffstetler (’26) first attended the program as a high school student and later returned as a mentor. Reflecting on her experience last year, she described the impact of being part of a close-knit, reflective community.

“The small group discussions about faith, leadership and vocation pushed me to reflect on my own path, and the evening worship services created a space for connection and reflection,” Huffstetler said in 2025. “By the end of the week, I walked away with a strong sense of community and a new perspective on how faith intersects with everyday life.”

That sense of exploration is central to the program’s design, Earheart-Brown said. Rather than prescribing answers, Expanding Horizons creates space for students to wrestle with questions — together.

“We don’t expect any student to fully agree with us on every conviction in order to participate and belong,” he said. “We believe deep conversation, even when there is disagreement, is one of the best ways to grow in faith and understanding.

“We want students to feel empowered to ask questions they might not feel comfortable asking elsewhere and to know they are valued and affirmed no matter where they are in their journey.”

Throughout the week, students balance classroom learning with shared experiences — from worship services and small-group discussions to time spent outdoors in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Thanks to generous donors, the cost of Expanding Horizons for this summer is only $300 — more than $200 less than last year, all of it covering housing, meals and program activities. Students who later choose to enroll at Maryville College are eligible for the Expanding Horizons Scholarship, which provides $500 annually in financial aid.

But for many participants, the value of the experience extends far beyond its cost.

“After leading Expanding Horizons for several summers, I’ve seen firsthand the impact it can have,” said the Rev. Jessica Kitchens Lewis (’07), chaplain at Maryville College and former program director, in remarks shared last year. “It’s a unique space where students can experience community, care and meaningful engagement with their faith.”