Wiley College is continuing its tradition of preparing high school students for higher learning through its annual summer program for the 16th year, Upward Bound Math and Science Regional Center, which teaches youngsters all about college life.

"It's been very challenging for the students," said Director Shawntell Phillips Tuesday. "We have 60 kids from five different states...but it's definitely been rewarding to see these students exposed to college living."

Not only do the students in Wiley's residence halls, but they adhere to a strenuous schedule of classes, labs and field trips. Balancing time between studying, homework and recreation is something they will need when the get to college, Ms. Phillips said.

The six-week program runs through July 12 and includes ethnically-diverse students from Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana and Texas. Participants have classes instructed by college professors in four core-curriculum content areas and are also responsible for hands-on science research and water quality research.

Guest speakers also visit the students on campus, making presentations on careers in addition to other recreational activities.

The program is heavily based on math and science and students experiment in the lab the several times a week.

Because of the program's spotlighting of math and science, Olivia Nunez, 18, of El Paso has also decided to major in biochemistry when she attend University of Texas at El Paso next fall. She wants to be a surgeon.

She would recommend the program to "any student who wants to learn," Ms. Nunez said.

Although in her second year at Upward Bound, Ms. Nunez is a newcomer to the Project SEED (Summer Educational Experience for the Disadvantaged) Program, an initiative that offers economically disadvantaged students to become familiar in the fields of chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry and materials science and participants receive a $2,500 stipend.

"The (SEED) students have also been doing a good job in biomedical research," said Ms. Phillips. "It's very intensive research."

The four Project SEED participants will have to make a presentation at a Mini Research Symposium during Upward Bound and submit their research to the sponsoring American Chemical Society, which recently funded the program with a $10,000 grant.

"It's so rewarding to see the students learn," said Upward Bound Associate Director and associate chemistry professor Dr. Walter Shumate. Shumate is also a coordinator and mentor for Project SEED.

"There aren't many high school students who get the opportunity to do research, especially of this caliber," Shumate added, describing projects where students test for mold in buildings on campus and poisons at the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant.

Project SEED and Upward Bound students are responsible for living and working together, which isn't always easy, but will be beneficial in the long run.

"It's pretty fun..I'm making a lot of friends," said 16-year-old Jorge Terrazas of El Paso, in his first year in Upward Bound.

But even more than that, the program is "just teaching me about myself," Terrazas said, explaining that being away from his family is making him stronger.

Meeting different people in the process of getting a dry run of college life has also helped Jameka Griffin, 16, from Houston.

"It just gives you a better understanding of your work," said Ms. Griffin, who has used her classes to learn more about her chosen field of electrical engineering.

Upward Bound first-timer Ronnie Gainer, 14, of Enid, Okla., is interested in forensic anthropology and English. The program's curriculum have helped her in both areas, Ms. Gainer said.

"It's a really good experience," she said.