Sixty minority high school students from across Missouri will spend a weekend at the University of Missouri-Rolla later this month learning about college life and the fields of engineering, math and science.

The Pre-College Initiative Weekend, set for Feb. 24-27, provides a host of activities to teach students about life on a university campus, while having fun. All hotel, transportation and food accommodations are covered for participating students, who are coming from Kansas City, St. Louis, Waynesville and Cape Girardeau.

"This event aims at giving high school students the chance to experience life on a college campus that they wouldn’t otherwise get to have," says Andre Davis, a junior in engineering management. "The main goal is to get these students interested in engineering or any technical background as well as motivating them to go to college."

Sponsors include the UMR chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, John Deere Co., the UMR office of admissions, and the UMR Minority Engineering Program.